Crew begins removing contaminated soil from Walla Walla Chevron
By Dan Thesman on Thursday, June 6th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – An excavation crew has begun removing contaminated soil from around the underground storage tanks at the Stillwater Holdings Chevron, 7 E. Rose St., in Walla Walla.
Meantime, property owner Ben Kleban has sent a letter requesting the Washington State Department of Ecology to step in as he’s out of resources. Kleban estimates his insurance policy is going to be tapped out in another week or two before the required cleanup activities are completed.
Kleban explained the first phase of the cleanup process is excavation and removal of an estimated 200 tons of contaminated soil. The dig will allow for an inspection in hopes of identifying the source of a gas leak first identified last September.
Ecology Communications Manager Stephanie May said the site poses significant risks to the community but adds Stillwater Holdings Chevron has not provided evidence that they have exhausted all financial means for conducting the cleanup.
“According to state law, we (Ecology) cannot use taxpayer funds to pay cleanup costs for private companies when they still have money available,” May said. “We have started an emergency contracting process to continue cleanup after Stillwater Holdings’ insurance is depleted.”
Kleban said 16th Legislative District lawmakers Sen. Perry Dozier (R-Waitsburg), Rep. Mark Klicker (R-Walla Walla) and Rep. Skyler Rude (R-Walla Walla) secured an additional $500,000 for Ecology to use towards this cleanup project, in addition to $500,000 in federal funding Ecology identified earlier.
“It appears Ecology is not willing to take over this project as needed, which puts human and environmental health at risk and will likely result in increased overall costs to the department,” Kleban stated in the letter he sent to Ecology on May 22.
Photo via Ecology shows workers removing soil from the Stillwater Holdings Chevron
