UN ITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 10 1200 Sixth Avenue. Suite 900

Seattle 

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## ()EC 11 ZUl4 The Honorable Jay Inslee Office ofthe Governor Post Office Box 40002 Olympia, Washington 98504-0002

Dear Governor Inslee:

The United States Environmental Protection Agency is considering proposing the Grain Handling Facility at Freeman site in March 2015 on the Superfund National Priorities List, pursuant to its authority under Section 105 ofthe Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. Section 9605. The NPL contains a list ofhigh priority sites with releases ofhazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants that require long-term remedial evaluation and response. It is EPA's policy to determine the state's position on sites that the EPA is considering placing on the NPL. With this letter, the EPA is seeking the concurrence ofthe State ofWashington on adding the Grain Handling Facility at Freeman site to the NPL.

In April 2014, the EPA conducted a site assessment in response to requests by state, local, and Freeman School District authorities for an investigation ofground water contamination at the Freeman School. The contaminants ofconcern found in the School District's water supply well are carbon tetrachloride and chloroform. Monitoring ofthis well revealed the presence ofcarbon tetrachloride at concentrations exceeding the EPA Safe Drinking Water Act Maximum Contaminant Level on multiple occasions. This well is used as the sole source ofpotable water to the Freeman School Campus which contains a preschool, elementary, middle and high school. This well serves approximately 900 students, teachers, and workers. It is also used to irrigate the district's campus grounds and for fire protection.

The Freeman School District's primary water supply well has been fitted with a water treatment system to remove carbon tetrachloride and chloroform contamination prior to distribution. Sampling conducted by the EPA identitied a source ofcontamination: the grain handling facility situated between State Route 27 and a Union Pacific Railroad line in Freeman, Washington. The EPA site assessment confirmed the presence ofcarbon tetrachloride and chloroform contamination in subsurface soils on the grain handling facility property. Adding the Grain Handling Facility at Freeman site to the NPL will help guarantee a comprehensive enforceable agreement with the responsible party/parties and will be an important milestone in protecting human health and ground water resources.
The EPA is requesting a written response to this letter from your office by December 30, 2014. The EPA has set this date to allow adequate time to meet the proposed rule schedule. The response letter should indicate whether the state supports placement ofthe site on the NPL. Ifthe state does not support listing, the state should describe the alternative approach to placement on the NPL that will ensure the identified high priority site and associated release(s) will be addressed.We will continue to work closely with the state as the listing process proceeds. We appreciate your consideration ofthis matter. If additional information is needed, please call me at (206) 553-1234, or your staffmay wish to contact Richard Albright, Director of Office ofEnvironmental Cleanup at (206) 553-1847

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Dennis J. McLerran Regional Administrator

cc: Maia D. Bellon, Ecology Jim Pendowski, Ecology James Woolford, Director, Office ofSuperfund Remediation and Technology Innovation

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