Hexavalent chromium is a human carcinogen and is classified as a dangerous waste.
From there, the Department of Ecology will get started on a cleanup plan. Ecology's goals are to protect drinking water and prevent any additional release of hazardous material, Seiler added. The source of the contamination has not yet been confirmed. The chrome plater has announced it is going out of business, leaving unresolved how the cleanup will be financed. We always prefer for the responsible party to pay for the cleanup.