OSWER/OSRTI

Washington, DC 20460

NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST (NPL) 

***Proposed Site*** May 2013 

MAKAH RESERVATION WARMHOUSE Neah Bay, Washington 

BEACH DUMP Clallam County

 Site Location:

The Makah Reservation Warmhouse Beach Dump is located approximately 3 m iles northwest of Neah Bay on a ridge 

overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It is at the head of two unnamed creeks, and drainage is to the west and east via 

these creeks. West Creek discharges to Warmhouse Beach and East Creek discharges to East Beach. 

 Site History:

The Warmhouse Beach Dump is an open dump which was in use from the early 1970s through October 2012. The dump 

reportedly was used by the Makah Air Force Station on the reservation to dispose of municipal solid and hazardous wastes. 

Following the closure of the Air Force Station in the late 1980s, the dump continued to be used by tribal members and non 

members for the disposal of municipal solid wastes. Access to the dump was closed as of November 1, 2012. 

 Site Contamination/Contaminants:

The active area of the dump is about 7 acres and the waste deposit is up to 40 feet in depth. As of the end of 2003, waste 

volumes were estimated to be 55,000 to 65,000 cubic yards. Soils at the dump are contaminated with polyaromatic 

hydrocarbons, pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, petroleum hydrocarbons, metals, dioxins and perchlorate. Surface 

water in creeks contains elevated concentrations of perchlorate, lead, cadmium, manganese, copper and zinc. Sediments in 

the creeks contain elevated concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene, perchlorate, cadmium, copper, lead, manganese, zinc and 

polybrominated diphenyl ethers. Mussels at the beaches contain elevated concentrations of lead.

 Potential Impacts on Surrounding Community/Environment: 

West Creek is used by the Makah Tribe for ceremonial purposes. Warmhouse Beach is an important natural and cultural 

resource for the tribe. In the past it has been used as a traditional summer fishing camp where families have spent extended 

periods of time living and harvesting a wide variety of marine resources available at the beach. Tribal subsistence harvest 

for sea urchins, mussels and steamer clams is documented to occur on both Warmhouse Beach and East Beach. Warmhouse 

Beach is also used for camping, surfing and other recreational activities. 

The Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, Flattery Rocks National Wildlife Refuge, and several federal and state 

listed threatened and endangered species habitats are within the site’s influence, including the federal-listed threatened 

marbled murrelet and the steller sea lion. 

 Response Activities (to date):

No response activities have been conducted at the site. 

 Need for NPL Listing:

The Makah Tribe referred the site to the EPA due to concerns about harmful hazardous substances leaching from the dump 

to traditionally significant shell fishing beaches and surface waters within the reservation and the tribes’ treaty-protected 

usual and accustomed fishing grounds. Other cleanup alternatives were evaluated, but are not viable. The EPA received a 

letter of support for placing this site on the NPL from the Makah Tribe, which considers cleanup of the dump its highest 

environmental priority. 

[The description of the site (release) is based on information available at the time the site was evaluated with the HRS. The description may 

change as additional information is gathered on the sources and extent of contamination. See 56 FR 5600, February 11, 1991, or subsequent 

FR notices.]

For more information about the hazardous substances identified in this narrative summary, including general information regarding the effects of exposure to 

these substances on human health, please see the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) ToxFAQs. ATSDR ToxFAQs can be found on 

the Internet at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/index.asp or by telephone at 1-888-42-ATSDR or 1-888-422-8737.