Washington Administrative Code › Title 173 - Ecology, Department of (See also Titles 197, 317, 372, and 508) › Chapter 173-340 - Model Toxics Control Act-Cleanup › Part 1 - OVERALL CLEANUP PROCESS › Section 173-340-120 - Overview

Current through Register Vol. 24-14, July 15, 2024
This section provides an overview of the cleanup process
				  that typically occurs at a site following the discovery of a release or
				  threatened release of a hazardous substance to the environment. See WAC
				  173-340-510 for an overview of
				  the administrative options for investigating and cleaning up a site. If there
				  are any inconsistencies between this section and any specifically referenced
				  sections, the referenced section governs.
(1)
Release reporting.
Within 90
				days of discovering a hazardous substance release or threatened release that
				may pose a threat to human health or the environment, an owner or operator must
				report the release to ecology as described in WAC
				173-340-300. Other persons are
				encouraged to report such releases. Some releases are exempt from the release
				reporting requirements of this chapter, including those previously reported to
				ecology under the state's hazardous waste, underground storage tank, or water
				quality laws. The term "hazardous substance" includes a broad range of
				substances as defined in WAC
				173-340-200.
(2)
Initial investigation.
Within 90 days of learning of a hazardous substance release, ecology conducts
				an initial investigation under WAC
				173-340-310 to confirm whether a
				release occurred that poses a threat and to determine whether further remedial
				action is necessary to confirm or address that threat. Ecology may extend an
				initial investigation when independent remedial actions are completed within 90
				days of release discovery. Ecology notifies owners and operators in writing of
				its determination. For sites where remedial action is necessary, ecology also
				notifies the public in the
Contaminated Site Register
and
				provides information about the site on ecology's website under WAC
				173-340-600.
(3)
Site hazard assessment and
				ranking.
Based on the results of the initial investigation, ecology
				assesses and ranks the threats to human health and the environment posed by the
				site under WAC
				173-340-320. Ecology may update
				the site's hazard assessment and rankings during the cleanup process when new
				information becomes available or conditions change. Ecology uses the results to
				support decisions to add or remove sites from the contaminated sites list,
				prioritize remedial action and funding among and within sites, track cleanup
				progress, and communicate threats to the public.
(4)
Listing.
Ecology lists a
				site based on the results of the initial investigation and the site hazard
				assessment and ranking.
(a)
Contaminated sites list.
If further remedial action is necessary,
				ecology adds the site to the contaminated sites list under WAC
				173-340-330. The list also
				identifies the site's remedial action status. Ecology updates the status during
				the cleanup process to reflect current conditions. The list is publicly
				available on ecology's website.
(b)
No further action sites list.
If no further remedial action is
				necessary, ecology adds the site to the no further action sites list under WAC
				173-340-335. The list identifies
				whether institutional controls or periodic reviews remain necessary at the
				site. The list is publicly available on ecology's website.