Makah Reservation Warmhouse Beach Dump

Overview

The Warmhouse Beach Dump is a 7-acre former open dump on the Makah Indian Reservation in Clallam County, Washington. It operated from the 1970s until 2012 and sits on a ridge about three miles northwest of Neah Bay. Two streams flow from the dump toward East Beach and Warmhouse Beach, both of which hold cultural significance for the Makah Tribe. EPA added the site to the Superfund National Priorities List in December 2013.

Testing has found elevated levels of metals, perchlorate, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in soil at the dump and in sediment from both creeks. Human exposure is not currently under control at the site. Unsafe levels of contamination have been detected, and there is a reasonable expectation that people could be exposed. Groundwater migration, however, is under control, and EPA is monitoring to confirm that affected groundwater stays within the original contamination area.

The Makah Tribe began monitoring water, sediment, and groundwater in 2001 and petitioned EPA for environmental assessments in 2009. EPA completed a preliminary site assessment in 2010 and a preliminary ecological risk assessment in 2016. The remedial investigation ran from October 2014 through November 2023, with multiple sampling events covering surface water, sediment, soil, and background areas. EPA has determined that cleanup action is necessary.

EPA's preferred cleanup plan is to excavate contaminated soil and sediment from East and West Creek to a depth of about 10 feet and dispose of the material at an off-site facility. Excavated areas would be regraded and replanted to improve drainage and reduce erosion. Contamination deeper underground would be capped. A record of decision is estimated for mid-2026, with remedial action estimated to begin between April and June 2028.

Community members could comment on the proposed plan through June 27, 2025, by emailing region10@epa.gov or mailing comments to EPA Region 10 in Seattle. EPA held a public hearing on May 13, 2025, at the Makah Tribal Community Hall in Neah Bay. The site has been selected as a pilot project for EPA's "Community Involvement as Conflict Prevention" initiative, and a Community Involvement Plan is available in standard and large-font versions. Public records related to the cleanup can be viewed at the Makah Tribal Center, Environmental Division, at 101 Resort Drive in Neah Bay.