Whitman County Site Added To State Hazardous Waste List

Thu., March 9, 2000

From Staff

One of 25 sites the Washington Department of Ecology is adding to its hazardous waste list is in Whitman County.

Western Farm Services of St. John was ranked a 3 on a hazard scale of 1-5, with 1 representing the highest level of concern. Western Farm Services is an agricultural retail distribution facility within the city limits.

DOE Public Information Officer Caitlin Cormier said samples from ground water monitoring wells at the site found nitrate concentrations three times higher than wells that were uphill.

In many cases, such soil and ground water contamination can stem from past practices that have left a lasting impact, Cormier said.

Western Farm Services has been doing voluntary cleanup work on several other Eastern Washington sites, including Rosalia and Lamont, where similar problems have been detected.

The additional 25 sites listed this week by Ecology brings the state total to 826. Of the most recent 25, there were four sites in Eastern Washington, including the Whitman County site and three in Yakima County.

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