| Abstract |
The 10-acre Pesticide Lab-Yakima site is located at the Yakima Agricultural Research Laboratory (YARL) in Yakima, Yakima County, Washington. The YARL, which has operated since 1961, develops insect control technologies to benefit fruit and vegetable agriculture in the Pacific Northwest. Wastes generated at the site consist of a wide variety of pesticide mixtures, rinsates from the cleaning of sprayers and other equipment, and solvents. In 1980, YARL received interim status under RCRA, however, in 1983, unpermitted discharges led to EPA investigations that revealed evidence of soil and potential ground water contamination from leaching of contaminants through the highly permeable sand and gravel. An RCRA Closure Plan, which was approved in 1990, provided for the removal and disposal of the septic tank contents, excavation and removal of the tank itself, washdown pad removal, additional background soil sampling, excavation and removal of contaminated soil to obtain clean-up levels, conformational soil sampling around the removed structures, installation of the three ground water monitoring wells, and 1 year of ground water sampling. Because all waste residues, contaminated soil, and subsoil have been removed or decontaminated pursuant to RCRA Clean Closure regulations, there are no contaminants of concern affecting this site. |
