Contaminated Sites
SITE HAZARD ASSESSMENTS
The Health District conducts Site Hazard
Assessments at sites listed on the Washington State Department
of Ecology’s (Ecology) Confirmed
and Suspected Contaminated Site (CSCS) List as
awaiting a Site Hazard Assessment. The Health District is grant
funded by Ecology to perform Site Hazard Assessment activities.
The purpose of this work is to assess the relative risks associated
with known or suspected contaminated sites in Kitsap County. Sites
can become contaminated through spills, leaks, illegal
discharges, or historic disposal activities.
Typical CSCS listed sites
in Kitsap County include:
Sites receive a hazard ranking using
the Washington Ranking Method (WARM) or are recommended for a
No Further Action (NFA) status if appropriate. Sites that receive
a relative hazard ranking for their potential risk will be added
to Ecology’s
Hazardous Sites List for later remedial
action under the Washington
State Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA).
A Site Hazard Assessment is not intended to be a detailed site
characterization, but must include sufficient information needed
to make a determination if the site will be ranked or not. The
following is a summary of tasks performed during the Site Hazard
Assessment process:
- Conduct comprehensive file review, conduct
interviews with those most familiar with the site’s history,
and gather relevant data;
- Prepare a health and safety plan for each
site;
- Conduct initial site visits in preparation
of sampling;
- Prepare a detailed site map for each site,
including all structures, wells, drainfields, utilities, vegetative
areas, paved areas, and waste storage areas. Delineate sampling
locations;
- Prepare a sampling and analysis plan for
each site;
- Conduct sampling of surface
water, groundwater, soil,
sediment, and gas, as necessary;
- Analyze samples for suspected contaminants
in the laboratory;
- Compile all relevant data into data collection
summary sheets and determine a hazard ranking using the Washington
Ranking Method; and
- Prepare a final report
for each site and submit ranking recommendation to Ecology.
INITIAL INVESTIGATIONS
The Health District also conducts initial investigations
(II) at sites referred by Ecology. The purpose of the II is to
determine whether a release
of a hazardous substance may have occurred that warrants further
action under the Model
Toxics Control Act.
Initial investigations are requested by Ecology
whenever they receive a complaint from the public regarding the
release of toxic substances. The II will help make a determination
whether the site should be referred to Ecology for immediate action,
should proceed through a Site Hazard Assessment, or be designated
as a NFA site. A written report is prepared for all sites. Investigations
include site visits, data gathering, historical research, and
possible analytical sampling.
For more information about the Site Hazard Assessment
program or questions about contaminated sites in Kitsap County,
please contact Grant
Holdcroft email or (360) 337-5607. The Department of Ecology
can be reached at (425) 649-7000.
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