TOFTDAHL DRUMS WASHINGTON EPA ID# WAD980723506

EPA Region 10 Clark County Brush Prairie 3rd Congressional District Other Names:

Last Update: May, 2010

Site Description

The 15-acre Toftdahl Drums site, located in Brush Prairie, was used in the early 1970s to clean used drums for resale. The three main areas where hazardous substances were used included a drum cleaning area, an initial burial trench, and a final drum burial area. Between 100 to 200 drums containing industrial waste were brought to the site from a plywood manufacturer. About 50 of the drums were crushed, placed in a trench, and covered with dirt because they could not be cleaned. Between 1978 and 1982, 38 of the drums from the trench were moved to a local landfill. In 1983, EPA site investigations revealed six badly rusted and leaking drums, which were subsequently removed. The area surrounding the site is rural/residential. Approximately 5,770 people live within three miles of the site. The surface of the site slopes downward to a spring and a small westerly-flowing tributary of Morgan Creek. [test replication Friday]

Site Responsibility: This site has been addressed through Federal and State actions.

NPL Listing History	Dates
Proposed Date:	10/15/1984
Removed Date:
Withdrawal Date:
Final Date:	06/10/1986
Deleted Date:	12/23/1988

Threats and Contaminants

Media Affected: Groundwater, Soil & Sludges, Surface Water
On-site surface water, groundwater, and soil were contaminated with heavy metals and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Cleanup actions have removed any potential health threats that were present at the site.


Cleanup Progress

Early Actions: In 1983, EPA sampled the six leaking drums and placed them in an excavation trench lined with polyethylene. The drums were then capped with a sheet of polyethylene, excavated soil, and a final sheet of polyethylene. A six-foot fence was installed around the excavated area. Three additional drums were found in a second excavation and were placed within the fenced area. In 1984, five potential burial locations were identified outside the fence and one area inside the fence. Further investigation of the areas outside the fence uncovered metal debris and “paint-chip-like” debris. This debris was addressed in the subsequent cleanup action. Inside the fenced area, 20 pits were excavated. In 1985, the State of Washington removed and disposed of five crushed drums, parts of additional drums, and 40 cubic yards of contaminated soils. Contaminated soils were placed in polypropylene bags. All contaminated materials were disposed of off-site at a federally approved hazardous waste facility. The site was deleted from the National Priorities List (NPL) on December 23, 1988.


Regional Contacts

SITE MANAGER(S):	Susan Haas
E-MAIL ADDRESS:	haas.susan@epa.gov
PHONE NUMBER:	206-553-2120
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT COORDINATOR:
E-MAIL ADDRESS
PHONE NUMBER:

Information pertaining to this site is housed at the following location(s):
EPA Region 10 Superfund Records Center (Administrative Record)
1200 Sixth Avenue, ECL-076
Seattle, WA 98101