Sunnyslope Elementary and Orchard Middle School

SITE BACKGROUND

Ecology is providing an opportunity for the public to comment on the Interim Remedial Action Plan and the issuance of a Determination of Non-Significance (DNS) for the soil cleanups at  Orchard Middle School and Sunnyslope Elementary School in Wenatchee.  Soil beneath the grass on the playgrounds at the two schools is contaminated with lead and arsenic.  The cleanup alternative preferred by Ecology at both schools consists primarily of placing clean soil on top of the existing soil, and establishing new grass on this clean soil.  Ecology has determined that this alternative will provide the necessary barrier to prevent human exposure to the contaminants.  At each school, the plan includes modification of the existing irrigation system to maintain the turf grass cover.  These cleanups were scheduled for the summer of 2007, but were postponed due to funding issues.  Ecology now plans to perform these cleanups during the summer of 2008.