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Department of Ecology Press Release - December 28, 2005
05-306
SPOKANE - The public has a month to review and comment on a newly completed Department of Ecology (Ecology) investigation of a site in Walla Walla County that shows soil and ground water contaminated with chromium.
Schwerin Concaves, Inc. - no longer in business - used chromium for years in its electroplating operation on Sapoli Road. Concaves are pieces of equipment in grain combines that are used to separate the wheat from the chaff. Schwerin Concaves plated the equipment with chrome to limit wear.
As part of the investigation, soil and ground water were tested for arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead and other contaminants. Results indicate the ground water on the site still contains chromium at concentrations that require cleanup.
Schwerin Concaves is considered an "orphan" site, meaning that the people responsible for the pollution are unavailable or financially unable to conduct an adequate cleanup operation themselves under the state's cleanup laws. Because of this, Ecology will pay for the cleanup using money from the state's toxics account.
After the public reviews the document, the state will conduct a feasibility study to determine the best methods to use to clean the site. A plan will then be developed and made available for public review before cleanup commences.
Copies of the remedial investigation study are available for review at the Walla Walla Public Library, 238 E. Alder St., or at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/sites/sites_information.html . Copies of the report also are available at Ecology's Eastern Regional Office, 4601 N. Monroe St., Spokane. Comments will be accepted through Jan. 26, 2006.
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Contact: Jani Gilbert, public information manager, 509-329-3495; cell, 509-990-9177
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
