[CPEO-IRF] Official release, Camp Bonneville (WA) transfer approval

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Washington State Department of Ecology
News Release
October 3, 2006

06-201
State approves early transfer of Camp Bonneville to Clark County

OLYMPIA - The state has agreed to approve the early transfer of the Camp 
Bonneville military reservation from the U.S. Army to Clark County, a 
move that will speed the cleanup of the former military reservation and 
provide more than 3,000 acres of open space and a public park.

The transfer is "early" because similar transfers typically occur after 
the cleanup.

"This is a great opportunity for Clark County and for Washington," said 
Governor Chris Gregoire. "The Department of Ecology has a proven record 
of successful cleanup, and by working with the county, they will be able 
to turn this land into an environmental preserve and public park sooner 
than previously expected."

In a hearing today in Vancouver, the Board of Clark County Commissioners 
formally accepted ownership of the property from the U.S. Army, and then 
transferred the deed to the contractor, which will conduct the cleanup 
at the site over the next several years.

Once the site is cleaned up, the county plans to retain about two thirds 
of the acreage for open space and wildlife and habitat conservation, and 
use one third as a regional park.

In the transfer, U.S. Department of Defense will pay Clark County $27 
million to complete the environmental cleanup and manage the property 
over the long-term. The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) will 
oversee the cleanup work, which will be conducted by Clark County and 
its contractors.

"It's been a long, hard haul just to get to the starting gate on this 
transfer," said County Board Chair Marc Boldt. "We appreciate all of the 
work that has gone into this over the last 10 years. Now we can get to 
work on the complex challenge of turning Camp Bonneville into a 
showpiece for the entire region."

According to Washington Department of Ecology's Barry Rogowski, who is 
managing the cleanup site for the state, "We will be working closely 
with Clark County and its cleanup contractors during and after the site 
cleanup to protect human health and the environment. We plan to be on 
site continuously during the cleanup work."

Clark County and Ecology will be working closely with experts in 
munitions cleanup during the project.

Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations & Environment Keith 
Eastin said, "This transfer is a wonderful opportunity for Clark County 
and the state of Washington to begin the cleanup and conservation reuse 
of these 3,800 acres. After a long delay, it is great news to see this 
property move to redevelopment."

Camp Bonneville covers approximately 3,840 acres which includes 820 
acres of state-owned land. It is contaminated with unexploded ordnance 
and hazardous substances. The military reservation is located 
approximately five miles from the Vancouver City limits. It borders both 
sides of Lacamas Creek and is approximately seven miles north of the 
Columbia River. More than half of the site is forested.

To ensure compliance with state Model Toxics Control Act cleanup 
requirements, Ecology and Clark County will enter into a Prospective 
Purchaser Consent Decree, which will govern the cleanup of the property. 
The agreement provides a legal framework for conducting further 
investigation and cleanup actions. The decree contains an ambitious 
schedule for completion of cleanup action plans for the site.

There are about 800 acres of Camp Bonneville Military Reservation that 
are state school trust lands managed by the Washington Department of 
Natural Resources (DNR). The Army is currently leasing these lands from 
the state. Lease funds help pay for construction of kindergarten through 
12th grade public schools statewide. These lands will not be 
transferred. However, cleanup of this portion of Camp Bonneville will be 
incorporated into the overall cleanup of the property.

The Department of Defense owned and operated Camp Bonneville Military 
Reservation for firing range practice and training from 1910 to 1995. 
The Army started using Camp Bonneville in 1910 for troop maneuvers, 
barracks and the firing of small weapons. Munitions training and use 
began in 1957. In addition to unexploded shells, military ammunitions 
stored and used at the site resulted in the release of hazardous 
substances, which caused some soil and groundwater contamination. 
Contaminants include petroleum products, lead, pesticides, and other 
chemicals.

# # #

For the original press release and other documents, go to
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/tcp/sites/camp_bonneville/camp_bonneville_hp.htm
--


Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org


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