The Spokane Junkyard/Associated Properties site sits in Spokane, Washington. It accepted military surplus items, automobiles, and electrical equipment from the 1940s until 1983. Junkyard operations and nearby metal recycling activities left soils contaminated with PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), lead, and solvents. An explosive fire in 1987 triggered EPA's first response. The site was added to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) in 1994.
Cleanup happened in two main phases. Between 1987 and 1989, EPA removed asbestos and about 8,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil and sent it to regulated landfills. Then, from August to December 1996, potentially responsible parties completed a second removal action. Workers excavated contaminated soil and consolidated it into an engineered containment cell on the Spokane Metals property. About 10,000 tons of soil were consolidated without treatment. An additional 2,600 tons of lead-contaminated soil, with lead levels above 5,000 parts per million, were treated before placement. Institutional controls were put in place to prevent anyone from disturbing the containment cell. A post-removal risk assessment found no additional cleanup was needed.
The site was deleted from the NPL in September 1997. Because waste remains on site, EPA conducts five-year reviews to confirm the cleanup continues to protect people and the environment. Reviews have been conducted regularly since 2001. The most recent review was completed in September 2021, and the next is estimated to occur between September and November 2026. Assessments confirm that human exposure is under control across the entire site, all cleanup goals for current and anticipated future land uses have been met, and the site is sitewide ready for use.
The cleanup made way for a successful redevelopment. The Bemiss Neighborhood Council worked with the community to plan reuse of the property. The Spokane Youth Sports Association then led efforts to build the Andrew Rypien Field sports complex, which opened in 2002. The containment cell was paved over to become the complex's parking lot. The facility now serves over 4,500 neighborhood children and won the national Phoenix Community Impact Award in 2004 for excellence in Superfund site reuse.
Community members with questions can contact the Remedial Project Manager or the Community Involvement Coordinator. EPA has begun its sixth five-year review of the site, and those contacts can provide updates or answer concerns.
