Comments wanted on Camp Bonneville cleanup plans

Washington State Department of Ecology

Department of Ecology News Release - May 28, 2009

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Comments wanted on Camp Bonneville cleanup plans

OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) seeks comments on draft documents related to cleaning up part of the Camp Bonneville military reservation in Clark County.

This phase of the ongoing cleanup focuses on the Central Impact Target Area. The former artillery target area covers roughly 465 acres.

Ecology asks the public to review and comment on:

A draft Interim Action Work Plan. The work plan describes how vegetation, surface and subsurface munitions and explosives, munitions debris, and 15 old vehicles and appliances will be removed from the Central Impact Target Area.
A proposed State Environmental Policy Act determination of non-significance related to this cleanup phase.

The comment period starts today, May 28, and ends June 29. Ecology will review all comments.

Camp Bonneville takes in almost 4,000 acres of forested land about five miles northeast of Vancouver city limits in Clark County. From 1910 to 1995, the Department of Defense owned Camp Bonneville, which it used for firing range practice and training.

Later investigations found soil contaminated with unexploded ordnance, explosive compounds, lead, petroleum products, pesticides and volatile organic compounds. Chemicals contaminated the groundwater.

In 2006, the Bonneville Conservation Restoration and Renewal Team took temporary ownership to manage the cleanup. Ecology will determine when the site meets state cleanup standards. After that, Clark County will own the site and use it as a park and wilderness conservation area.

Here’s where you can view the draft documents:

Vancouver Mall Public Library, 8700 NE Vancouver Mall Drive, Suite 285. Phone (360) 892-8256.
Washington State University Vancouver Library, 14204 NE Salmon Creek Ave. Phone (360) 546-9680.
Department of Ecology, Toxics Cleanup Program, 300 Desmond Drive in Lacey. For appointments, contact Carol Dorn at (360) 407-7224 or cesg461@ecy.wa.gov.
Ecology’s Web site: www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/sites/camp_bonneville/camp_bonneville_hp.htm

You may submit comments and technical questions to Ben Forson, Site Manager, Toxics Cleanup Program, Washington Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600; e-mail bfor461@ecy.wa.gov.

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Media Contact:
Seth Preston, Ecology communications manager, (360) 407-6848; (360) 584-5744 cell; spre461@ecy.wa.gov