WA DNR Webster Nursery, Tumwater

WA DNR Webster Nursery is a 300-acre tree nursery run by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The nursery grows and sells 9 million seedlings each year. 

In the past, the nursery used organochlorine pesticides, including chlordane and heptachlor. These chemicals were very effective at killing insects but are also toxic to human health. The nursery has not used insecticides since the early 1990s. 

In 1996 DNR found that an underground storage tank leaked pesticides into soil and groundwater, and Ecology added the site to the Contaminated Sites List.  

Cleanup work happened in 1996 and 2018. Now, contamination is below cleanup levels, and Ecology is ready to move this site from the Contaminated Sites List to the No Further Action Sites List. Some contaminated soil deep in the ground was left behind during cleanup. An environmental covenant filed with Thurston County sets rules to prevent people and wildlife from being exposed to this contamination. 

We will consider public input before making a final decision.