HomeMy WebLinkAboutCorrespondence - BOCCOctober 24, 2023
Ms. Laura Watson, Director
Washington Department of Ecology
Laura.watsonggec..wa. ov
300 Desmond Drive SE
Lacey, WA 98503
Dear Director Watson:
GRANT COUNTY
OFFICE OF THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
P O Box 37
EPHRATA WA 98823
(509) 754-2011
The Grant County Board of Commissioners joins the City of Ephrata's request to meet with you
and discuss the scope, schedule and funding for remedial actions at the old Ephrata Landfill, a
MTCA cleanup site near the City of Ephrata.
The City recounts some of the site history in its letter. The County adds the following
information:
• The site was designated a cleanup site under MTCA because of concerns about
groundwater contamination from both the landfill itself and the buried drums delivered
by Resource Recovery.
• Releases from the landfill (leachate and toxic components of landfill gas,) likely began
during the early days of landfill operation when the City owned and operated the landfill
and continued for decades.
• The County, the City and Ecology executed an Agreed Order in 2007, and cleanup
activities have occurred since then. This work was largely funded by $25 million in
grants from Ecology.
Recently, the Ecology project managers proposed an order amendment to continue the cleanup
activities. Unfortunately, despite the County and City's best efforts, the proposed amendment
scope and schedule are impossible to meet. Moreover, grant funding is not assured. As the City
notes, both the City and the County are economically distressed. Both are economically
disadvantaged according to the Toxics Cleanup Program. Neither government is capable of
performing the remaining work without grant funding, and we would like to meet With you to
discuss the site.
Danny E. Stone Rob Jones Cindy Carter
District 1 District 2 District 3
"T❑ MEET CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS? SERVING TOGETHER WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES? WHILE FOSTERING
A RESPECTFUL AND SUCCESSFUL WORK ENVIRONMENT."
We look forward to discussing these issues with you and to finding a mutually acceptable path
forward.
Please contact the undersigned to set up a visit to Ephrata as the City requests.
Sincerely,
BOARD OF GRANLINTY CO SSIO ER
Rob Joit Cindy Ca er Danny EAtone
:bjv
CC: Devin J. McCrae, Prosecuting Attorney
Sam Castro, Public Works Director