Bridgeport Elementary School and Orondo Elementary School

SITE BACKGROUND

The Bridgeport Elementary School and Orondo Elementary School sites were cleaned up as part of the Area-Wide Soil Contamination Project.  Area-wide soil contamination is defined as contamination above state cleanup levels that is dispersed over a large geographic area.  The soil contamination in this case is a result of central Washington’s orchard industry.  Much of the region consists of current or former orchard land, where long-term pesticide application has taken its toll.  Lead-arsenate, a pesticide commonly used between the years of 1905 and 1947 to control the codling moth, has been identified as the primary source of increased lead and arsenic concentrations.
 
Soil beneath the grass on the playgrounds at the two schools was contaminated with lead and arsenic.  The cleanup alternative preferred by Ecology at both schools consisted primarily of placing clean soil on top of the existing soil, and establishing new grass on this clean soil.  Based on the cleanups completed and environmental covenants put in place, Ecology determined the sites no longer posed a threat to human health or the environment.  Ecology issued determinations of No Further Action and is removing the sites from the Hazardous Sites List.