FYI

Andrea Grad
Alki
agrad at helsell.com

-----Original Message-----
From: McMillen, Joan (ECY) [mailto:jwol461 at ECY.WA.GOV]
Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2001 7:48 AM
To: ECONEWS at listserv.wa.gov
Subject: News: Contamination confirmed in Ridgefield refuge


Department of Ecology News Release - May 22, 2001
01-087

Contamination confirmed in Ridgefield refuge

OLYMPIA - Lab tests now confirm what environmental experts have suspected
for some time - wood-treating chemicals have seeped into ground water under
Carty Lake from the former Pacific Wood Treating Corp. site at the Port of
Ridgefield.

"Levels of contamination are moderately low and do not represent a threat to
drinking water, but we are more eager than ever to galvanize funding so
cleanup can begin," said Dan Alexanian of the Department of Ecology's
toxic-cleanup program.

The nearest source of drinking water is an aquifer below the depth where
contamination has been found. But Alexanian said it's too early to know
what, if any, harm may have occurred to fish and wildlife. Carty Lake is
part of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.

In the nine wells tested, two contaminants did not meet state cleanup
standards for ground water: trichloroethylene (TCE) and pentachlorophenol
(PCP), both suspected human carcinogens.

TCE was found at 9.4 parts per billion (ppb); the residential cleanup
standard is 3.98 ppb. PCP was found at 16 ppb; its residential cleanup
standard is 0.729 ppb. The residential standard is the state's strictest
cleanup requirement.

Also, very low levels of carcinogenic polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were
estimated by the lab, ranging from 0.02 to 0.05 ppb. The groundwater
standard for PAHs is 0.012 ppb.

Alexanian said that Ecology intends to continue providing financial
assistance for the cleanup, if the state legislature provides enough money
in the next budget cycle that begins in July. The department has given
approximately $5 million in grants to clean up the site since it came under
Ecology's oversight more than four years ago.

"This is one of Clark County's worst environmental problems. We're on a path
to change that," Alexanian said.

Ecology estimates the site cleanup will take 10 years, at a total cost of
$48 million. The port is waiting for funding approval so it can begin
state-of-the-art steam cleanup that could begin as soon as July.

The port is requesting $8 million to get started on two years' worth of
steam cleanup at the site. In addition, it is lobbying the federal
government to help bankroll part of the cleanup costs.

# # #

Note to editors: Department of Ecology toxic-cleanup expert Dan Alexanian
and Port of Ridgefield executive director Brent Grening will be available
for media interviews from noon to 1 p.m. today. Representatives from the
wildlife refuge and the state Department of Health also will be available.
Meet them at the port office, then take a short walk to Carty Lake for a
photo opportunity.

To get to the Port office, take exit 14 off I-5 and go west three miles into
Ridgefield. At stop sign, turn right on Main St., then turn left onto West
Division. The port office is located across railroad tracks to the right.

Contacts: Sandy Howard, public information manager, 360-407-6239; pager,
360-786-3136; cell phone, 360-791-9830

Ecology's toxic-cleanup Web site:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/cleanup.html

Broadcast version:

Lab tests now confirm that wood-treating chemicals have seeped into
underground water beneath Carty Lake at the Ridgefield National Wildlife
Refuge.

Fortunately, the nearest source of drinking water comes from below the depth
where contamination has been found.

The contaminants came from the former Pacific Wood Treating Corporation,
which was located on Port of Ridgefield property.

The Port hopes to begin cleaning site in July, if the state legislature
provides enough funding in the next state budget. The cleanup will take
about 10 years, and cost about 48 million dollars.

# # #
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