Publication Summary

This is the study plan for monitoring seep water from the Port Angeles Landfill to an intertidal area.

This Quality Assurance (QA) Project Plan is provided for monitoring seep water discharging to the intertidal area below the City of Port Angeles landfill adjacent to Dry Creek. The landfill began as a dump in the early 1950s.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the seep water contains high concentrations of metals being discharged to the beach from the landfill. The project was prompted by a citizen who reported water seeping from the ground in front of the landfill during a negative tide and collected a sample in June 2008. A total metals analysis showed a high level of lead and copper and an elevated zinc concentration.

The site had been an unconfined disposal site until closed by the City of Port Angeles. The site was capped in 1990, and a retaining wall was completed in 2007. The portion of the landfill adjacent to the beach is unlined.

Monitoring will take place in 2009 during a negative tidal elevation. Intertidal seep water will be sampled for total recoverable and dissolved priority pollutant metals. Seep water samples will also be analyzed for hardness, total suspended solids, and conductivity.

Each study conducted by the Washington State Department of Ecology must have an approved QA Project Plan. The plan describes the objectives of the study and the procedures to be followed to achieve those objectives. After completion of the study, a final report describing the study results will be posted to the Internet.

Link to EIM data for User Study ID SGOL010