Plan for removing oil contamination

Snohomish River and Historic First Street

A set of proposed changes to the existing cleanup plan for removing oil contamination from the soil and groundwater beneath the town of Skykomish would accelerate portions of the cleanup.  The Department of Ecology (Ecology) seeks public comment on the revisions through April 21.  A community meeting to discuss the proposals is scheduled for 6 p.m., March 25, 2009, at Maloneys General Store, 104 Railroad Ave. in Skykomish.

BNSF Railway is midway through a four-year plan to clean up oil that leaked from a maintenance and fueling facility that operated from the 1890s until 1974.  The main proposed changes to the cleanup plan would shift the order in which sections of the town will undergo cleanup.  The revised plan also would allow more options for cleanup beneath the Skykomish School.  Completion of the overall project outside railroad property remains set for 2011.

Details of the cleanup plan, the proposed revisions, and work accomplished will be available later this week on line at:

• http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/sites/bnsf_sky/bnsf_sky.html
• http://www.skykomishcleanup.com/documents.aspx

The information also will be available at the King County Library Skykomish Branch, 100 5^th St., and at Ecologys Northwest Regional Office, 3190 160^th Ave. SE, Bellevue (call 425-649-7190 for an appointment). 

Comments and technical questions should be addressed to Brad Petrovich, Department of Ecology:
E-mail: bpet461@ecy.wa.gov
Phone: 425-649-4486
Postal mail: 3190 160^th Ave. SE, Bellevue WA 98008

Ecologys June 8, 2007 news release describes the Skykomish cleanup plan.
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2007news/2007-151.html