YAKIMA, Wash. — Environmental officials in Washington state have asked for public comment on plans to clean up more than a dozen polluted sites at the U.S. Army’s training center in Yakima.
The state Department of Ecology said the plans address 21 different areas on the base that do not meet federal soil and groundwater standards for pollution or have yet to be investigated, the Yakima Herald-Republic reported. The deadline for submitting public comments is Sept. 16.
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A satellite garrison of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the Yakima Training Center has been used since 1941 to provide combat training for troops, which resulted in disposed ammunition, lead-acid batteries, fuel, solvents and other pollutants contaminating the ground and groundwater on parts of the base, department officials said.
Officials said more than 120 sites on the installation were identified and most were cleaned up. That work was done under department supervision, but not with a formal agreement.
Department officials said the 21 sites in discussion will be addressed through a formal agreement between the military and the environmental department.