Grain Handling Facility at Freeman

Overview

The Grain Handling Facility at Freeman is a 1-acre property in rural Washington, about 20 miles southeast of Spokane. It has operated as a grain handling facility since 1955. Carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, and carbon disulfide have contaminated the soil and groundwater there. The site was added to the National Priorities List in September 2015. The Washington Department of Ecology leads the investigation and cleanup, with EPA oversight.

Carbon tetrachloride was historically used at grain facilities to control pests. Most of the soil contamination has moved into local groundwater. That groundwater supplies drinking water to private residences and the Freeman School District, which serves about 900 students, teachers, and workers. The school district's water supply was contaminated but has had a treatment system in place since 2013 and is regularly monitored. Residential wells with unsafe contaminant levels have also received point-of-use treatment systems where homeowners accepted them.

The responsible parties, Cenex Harvest States and Union Pacific Railroad, installed those treatment systems and conduct monthly water quality testing at affected homes. A pump-and-treat system began operating in July 2021. It pulls contaminated groundwater from the plume, treats it with activated carbon on the facility property, and returns clean water underground through injection wells. The system has removed 13 kilograms of carbon tetrachloride so far. Ecology plans to test and optimize it for two to three more years before writing a final Cleanup Action Plan.

Current assessments show human exposure is under control and groundwater contamination is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. EPA will continue monitoring to confirm contamination stays within its current area. Physical construction of the final cleanup is not yet complete, and the site is not yet ready for full anticipated use. One on-site business is currently operating. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry is preparing a health assessment for the site.

Community members with questions can reach the EPA Remedial Project Manager, Dustan Bott, by email or phone. The Washington Department of Ecology's Site Manager, Sandra Treccani, is also available by phone.