Third Walla Walla building tests high for volatile organic compounds
By Dan Thesman on Tuesday, September 19th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
News release from city of Walla Walla
WALLA WALLA – On Monday evening, Walla Walla Fire Department crews were performing regular air-quality testing of buildings around the Marcus Whitman Hotel. They found a previously unidentified sump in the basement of the vacant building at 106 N. 2nd Ave., between the Chevron station and the Walla Walla Post Office. Previous testing WWFD performed in that building and its basement had not returned any unusual readings.
Testing within the sump revealed the presence of extremely high concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and LELs (lower explosive limits). This was a similar condition to what was found in the sump of the hotel last Thursday.
WWFD immediately shut off the power and gas to the building and began natural ventilation of the sump and basement. Over Monday night, a Clean Harbors crew began active ventilation of the basement and pumping of the sump. Initial barrels of material pulled from the sump had the appearance and smell of clean gasoline.
The situation at the hotel is stable, with adequate ventilation preventing elevated VOC readings. Clean Harbors continues to clear mud and water from the hotel sump.
Clean Harbors will bring in additional crew and equipment tonight and expects to begin round-the-clock responses at both buildings.
Regular testing of the sumps in the basements of the Walla Walla Post Office and Blue Mountain Action Council building have not indicated elevated levels of VOCs or LELs.
Similarly, regular testing performed at Kinglet/Seven Hills Winery, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers headquarters, buildings to the south of Rose Street, and elsewhere at BMAC has not detected elevated levels of VOCs or LELs in those buildings.
The Post Office remains closed pending USPS bringing in a team to respond to the elevated VOC levels in its basement. The City communications staff is in contact with their counterparts at USPS and will share updates as we receive them.
The City’s previous Marcus Whitman update included the following statement, which had been copied from a USPS news release: “Post Office Box customers can call for their mail at the College Place Post Office.” This statement might be confusing — “call” did not literally mean to telephone the College Place location; it meant customers should stop by that office.
USPS has updated its statement to read: “Post Office box customers can collect their mail at the College Place Post Office located 500 S College Ave., College Place, WA 99324.”
The USPS collection boxes along Sumach Street on the northern corner of the Post Office property are not available to the public at this time. Mail deposited in the other collection boxes throughout the city is still being collected.
A tightness test on the suspected gasoline storage tank at the Chevron station was performed Monday afternoon. The tank passed the test, indicating it is not leaking. Thus it does not appear to be the source of the gasoline found in the basement sumps.
The Chevron store and its fuel pumps are currently open for customers, dispensing 87 and diesel fuels only. To alleviate vehicle congestion around the Chevron, City crews have established an exit from the station onto southbound 2nd Avenue (see the attached photo).
A hydrogeologist from the Washington State Department of Ecology has arrived and met this afternoon with the City’s Environmental Engineer to learn about conditions around the hotel. He will then begin an investigation, which will focus on determining the source of the gasoline and the flow of groundwater in the area, to identify the route the gasoline might be taking. DOE will lead the investigation of additional fuel storage tanks at the Chevron and at the Circle K station at 315 N. 2nd Ave.
There are seven known decommissioned underground fuel storage tanks in the area. These are not currently viewed as probable sources, as the gasoline found in the basement sumps has the appearance and odor of new fuel.
Continued monitoring by Public Works staff has not seen evidence of gasoline in the stormwater system, sewer system, water system, or waterways.
WWFD has established chainlink fencing around the currently closed area to more effectively prevent pedestrians from entering the investigation and response zone.
The response team appreciates the flexibility of the community as we learn more about the situation and adjust our approach to changing conditions.
City staff will continue to provide these updates on the City website (https://www.wallawallawa.gov) as the situation changes.
Photo via city of Walla Walla of vacant building, 106 N. 2nd Ave., where high levels of VOCs and LELs were detected in a sump in the basement.
