Old Inland Pit is a 10-acre former gravel mining site in Spokane, Washington. The pit was mined for gravel from 1969 to 1978. From 1978 to 1983, Spokane Steel Foundry Company disposed of 200 tons of baghouse dust and foundry sands there. Baghouse dust contains heavy metals, and soil investigations found elevated levels of arsenic, chromium, zinc, and aluminum. The site sits above the sole source aquifer for about 30,000 people within a three-mile radius, making the contamination a serious local concern.
The Washington Department of Ecology conducted a remedial investigation, which concluded in June 1998. Ecology determined that soil cleanup was not necessary. The final remedy, selected on December 31, 1998, relies on groundwater monitoring, no action for certain areas, and institutional controls. Construction of those controls was completed on February 1, 1999. A restrictive covenant placed on the property in 1999 limits future land use and prevents incompatible uses like residential development. Permanent fencing restricts direct access to contaminated soil. Human exposure to contamination is under control across the entire site, and all cleanup goals have been met for current and anticipated future land uses.
The EPA deleted the site from the National Priorities List in August 1999. Washington's Department of Ecology removed it from the state Hazardous Sites List the same month. Ecology has since completed three periodic reviews, with the most recent in 2023. Each review determined that no further cleanup or maintenance is required.
Today the site operates as part of the Spokane Industrial Park. As of December 2024, two businesses operate on-site, employing 25 people and generating about $18.1 million in annual sales. The site achieved sitewide ready for anticipated reuse status in September 2009, reflecting that it supports productive commercial and industrial use without unacceptable risk.
Community members with questions can contact the EPA Remedial Project Manager. The Community Involvement Coordinator is also available to answer questions about the site.
