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Department of Ecology News Release - July 2, 2008
08-184
BELLEVUE – Work to clean up oil contamination beneath Skykomish has resumed this summer, under an agreement between the Department of Ecology (Ecology) and BNSF Railway (BNSF), in cooperation with the town.
Crews have moved a house, a tavern building and a former train station from the town’s center. They will replace oily soil and remove oil from groundwater before returning the three historic buildings. The cleanup will close two of Skykomish’s main streets, and residents will use a detour and temporary railroad crossing while the work progresses.
“This is a tremendous step forward,” said Jim Pendowski, who manages Ecology’s toxics cleanup program. “We especially thank the people of Skykomish who must live with noise and disruption. Ecology, the town and the railroad have worked hard to keep these to a minimum. This ranks among the most complex cleanups ever undertaken in Washington, and we appreciate all parties’ efforts over many years to reach this stage.”
The work marks the start of at least four summers of cleanup work in different parts of the town’s main section. BNSF is conducting the cleanup under Ecology oversight.
Skykomish Mayor Charlotte Mackner said, “We're grateful that BNSF and Ecology have worked with us to keep this cleanup on track so that we can get it completed as soon as possible. We're all looking forward to having a cleaner, more vibrant town in a few short years.”
BNSF spokesman Gus Melonas said, “We are pleased with the progress of the remediation program as we work closely with the state and community of Skykomish.“.
A railway maintenance and fueling facility operated in Skykomish – located along Stevens Pass – from the early 20th Century until 1974. Over the decades, bunker-C and diesel fuel oil were discharged to the environment on the rail yard. The oil then flowed downward to the water table, and under the town to the South Fork of the Skykomish River.
This summer’s work follows up on a 2006 project that removed contaminated soil along the town’s western riverfront. BNSF replaced a levee, river sediment and soil beneath five houses, which were moved out of the excavation area for several months. That neighborhood has been fully restored, with a walkway added on top of the new levee.
The 2006 project ended the flow of oil into the Skykomish River, first reported as early as the mid-1920’s.
Projects slated for the rest of the town over the next three years include soil removal and replacement in some areas, in-place treatments to remove oil and vapors, temporary relocation of up to 10 houses and buildings, and restoration of wetlands in the former channel of Maloney Creek.
This summer’s work also includes construction of an underground barrier wall to isolate BNSF’s rail yard property from the rest of the town. The company will conduct a partial clean up of contamination on its land under a separate schedule.
Skykomish and BNSF are cooperating to use the excavation as an opportunity to replace old town water lines and to install pipes for a new wastewater treatment system for the town. Ecology is funding part of these projects, as is BNSF, as part of an assessment the company is paying to the state for damage to public resources from the oil contamination.
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Contacts:
Larry Altose, public information officer; pager 206-663-1785; office: 425-649-7009
Charlotte Mackner, Mayor, Town of Skykomish, 360-677-2388
Gus Melonas, BNSF Railway, 206-625-6220
For more information:
Skykomish cleanup home page:
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/sites/bnsf_sky/bnsf_sky.html
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
