EPA Issues Groundwater Cleanup Plan

A comprehensive cleanup plan for the trichloroethylene (TCE)-contaminated groundwater at the Moses Lake Wellfield Contamination Superfund site just north of Moses Lake, Wash., has been issued for public review by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The site includes the Grant County Airport, the former Larson Air Force Base, and areas south of the airport.

"This cleanup plan takes steps that will protect human health and the environment and restore groundwater quality," said Lori Cohen, associate director of EPA's Office of Environmental Cleanup.

The groundwater and soil at the site were contaminated with TCE and other hazardous substances by operations of the former base and industrial activities associated with the aircraft industry. Approximately 1,000 acres of groundwater are contaminated with TCE above health-based standards, and several contaminated soil waste areas are scattered throughout the site. The proposed cleanup is expected to cost about $31 million.

TCE is an industrial solvent that was commonly used at this site for stripping paint from airplanes, washing airplane parts and cleaning missile components. The proposed cleanup calls for pumping out the most highly contaminated water and treating it to remove TCE; cleaning up contaminated soil areas by removing those surpassing safe levels; restoring groundwater to its highest beneficial use as a drinking water source; and requiring local land use restrictions such as changes to local ordinances, zoning and property easements to protect the public until work is completed.

The proposed plan gives background information about the Moses Lake site, describes the cleanup options EPA considered and explains the agency's recommended cleanup actions. EPA will choose a final cleanup plan for the site after careful review and consideration of information provided by the public during the comment period.

The public comment period starts Jan. 7 and ends March 7. EPA will host an open house on the cleanup plan on Jan. 16 and a public meeting on Feb. 13--both will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake.

The proposed cleanup plan is available at the Big Bend Community College library and online at http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/cleanup.nsf/sites/moses.

Source: U.S. EPA