Step 1:  Gather Preliminary Information (Research) 

Initially, you'll need to gather just enough information to get a sense of what you are dealing with (a more detailed assessment comes later).  You'll also need to find out the minimum information needed to report the Problem.

• How do I find out more about what's on my property?
• If I find contamination on my property, how do I find out what types of chemicals are there?
• How do I find out if the contamination might harm people or pets?
• What precautions can I take to reduce the exposure for my family?
• What are some common situations or scenarios that occur repeatedly?
• If I find contamination on my property, am I required to disclose this information when I sell my house?

Step 2:  Report the Problem      

• How do I report the discovery of hazardous waste?
• How do I find out if my situation needs to be reported to Ecology? 
• What information do I need to know before reporting the problem / incident?
• What happens after I've reported the problem to Ecology?
• What are the consequences of not reporting the problem?

 

Step 3:  Assess Your Situation & Evaluate Options               

In most cases, you'll need still more information before you can decide what needs to be done and how to proceed.  You'll want to explore available options and the costs and benefits associated with each.

• Who is responsible for cleaning up my property?
• What can property owners do to test their property?
• How do I find out if my private well or water supply is contaminated?
• What constitutes a hazardous waste?  How do I find out if the waste discovered is toxic / hazardous?
• What cleanup options are available to me:
  -- What can I do myself? 
  -- What can I do with Ecology's assistance? 
  -- What can a cleanup contractor help me with?
• What is Ecology's role in the cleanup process?
• If I decide to hire an environmental or engineering contractor, how do I go about finding a well-qualified, reputable company?
• What costs / fees are associated with cleaning up the toxic waste?
• Is there any financial assistance available to help pay for cleaning up my property?
• What assistance does Ecology provide to residential property and small business owners who find contamination on their property?
• Where else might I look for assistance?

 

Step 4:  Get the Cleanup Work Done                               

• If I want to clean up my property, where can I safely dispose of contaminated materials (such as soil, wastes, etc.)?
• What else do I need to do after the cleanup work has been completed?

 

Notes:

If you have a slow internet connection, such as a modem, some of the external links may take a long time to load.  Many public libraries have computers with internet capability available for use by their patrons.

Disclaimer: This ‘Guide’ is provided as a service to the public. The information provided herein is intended to be helpful, but it is not exhaustive and the user may need to obtain information from additional sources.  Although the ‘Guide’ has undergone review to ensure the quality of the information provided, there is no assurance that it is free from errors.  This ‘Guide’ cannot be relied upon to create rights, substantive or procedural, enforceable by any party in litigation with the State of Washington.

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Was this information helpful to you?  Do you have a question that would be helpful to others but isn't addressed here ?
 

Please email general questions and feedback about this Guide to: 
Melanie Saunders
 

For more specific questions, please see:
Toxics Cleanup Program Contacts

 

Copyright © 2006 Washington State Department of Ecology