ALERT: All Ecology offices are closed to walk-in service through at least May 4. For more information please visit our COVID-19 response page. See also the Washington state COVID-19 page.
We oversee the cleanup of many facilities that manage or have managed dangerous waste. Most of these sites are large and complex, with multiple sources of contamination. Facilities must investigate and clean up any dangerous waste released into the environment. We use the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the state Model Toxics Control Act to guide the cleanup at these sites.
Dangerous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities must have a dangerous waste permit. Many facilities are no longer in operation, but their owners are still required to investigate and clean up any waste released into the environment.
Either Ecology or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency oversee these cleanups. Most sites are large and complex, with multiple sources of contamination in soil and groundwater. It may take decades to complete a cleanup because of the technical and legal complexity. Learn more about the cleanups happening at these sites:
Bridgette Valdez-Kogle Public Involvement Coordinator Hazardous Waste & Toxics Reduction Program bridgette.valdez-kogle@ecy.wa.gov 360-407-7616