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Department of Ecology News Release - November 17, 2008
08-296
OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) will meet this week with Walla Walla residents to talk about investigating contamination at the Washington State Penitentiary.
Ecology plans to enter into an Agreed Order with the Washington Department of Corrections (DOC) to conduct a remedial investigation and feasibility study at the prison, 1313 N. 13th St. Chemicals were found in groundwater near the Sudbury Road landfill outside the prison perimeter fences. Chemicals from processes such as license plate manufacturing, dry cleaning, motor pool maintenance, and sign manufacturing may have been disposed of in the prison’s construction debris landfill.
The City of Walla Walla has not found the chemicals in drinking water used by the community and the prison.
The community meeting is scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, at the Walla Walla Housing Authority, 501 Cayuse. A Spanish interpreter will be available.
Ecology staff members also will meet with prison employees and inmate representatives.
Ecology also seeks public comments on the proposed Agreed Order, which includes the remedial investigation and feasibility study. The investigation will provide more information about chemicals in soil and groundwater. The feasibility study evaluates cleanup alternatives.
Related documents include a scope of work and a public participation plan. The scope of work outlines details of what will be done. The public participation plan outlines the ways Ecology and DOC will involve and inform the public about the site cleanup.
The comment period runs from Nov. 19 through Dec. 22. Here’s where you can view the proposed documents:
You may submit comments to Sandra Treccani, site manager, Toxics Cleanup Program, Washington Department of Ecology, 4601 N. Monroe, Spokane, WA 99205-1295; e-mail satr461@ecy.wa.gov.
Once the public comment period ends, Ecology will review and respond to all comments. The documents could be amended based on comments Ecology receives.
The Washington State Penitentiary, which covers 540 acres in a primarily rural area, began operating in 1887. The prison employs 1,285 staff and houses 2,164 inmates.
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Media Contact: Seth Preston, Ecology communications manager, 360-407-6848; 360-584-5744 cell; spre461@ecy.wa.gov
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
