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Issaquah council authorizes PFAS cleanup agreements, accepts state grants for investigations at five sites
Summary
The council authorized the mayor to sign agreed orders and one-time grant implementation agreements with the Washington Department of Ecology for PFAS investigations and cleanup planning at sites including Eastside Fire & Rescue headquarters, Issaquah Valley Elementary/Dodd Fields, Memorial Field and a segment of Rainier Trail.
The Issaquah City Council on Jan. 21 authorized the mayor to enter into agreed orders and one-time grant implementation agreements with the Washington State Department of Ecology to investigate and plan cleanup for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at multiple historic firefighting training sites in the city.
Public Works Director Emily Moon told council members the Department of Ecology has awarded $3.5 million in state funding to support continued investigation and initial cleanup planning. The city’s planned work falls into two geographic groupings: the west side (Eastside Fire & Rescue headquarters, Issaquah Valley Elementary School and Dodd Fields) and the east side (Memorial Field and a section of Rainier Trail).
Moon described the expected process under the Model Toxics Control Act: remedial investigations, possible interim actions where the data indicate immediate steps are warranted, feasibility studies of cleanup options and, ultimately, design and implementation. She said earlier sampling already demonstrated PFAS releases on some properties and that Ecology prescribed an interim action at the Eastside Fire & Rescue headquarters property.
The state award totals $3.5 million and covers portions of investigation and initial cleanup planning. Moon provided cost estimates the city is tracking: roughly $4.5 million estimated for the west side scope of work and about $495,000 for the east side scope; the grants do not fully cover those estimates and additional funding will be sought.
Council heard technical details from consultant Sarah Snyder, who described field techniques. "Monitoring wells are typically 6 to 8 inch diameter, manhole covers similar to... a water main," Snyder said, and "the boreholes themselves, they're typically about 2 inches in diameter, and then those get backfilled." She said wells can be installed flush with turf or patched to minimize impacts to sports fields.
Moon and staff noted scheduling and coordination challenges: work at school properties will be timed to summer breaks where possible; recreation-field sampling will seek winter windows to reduce disruption; Rainier Trail access faces tree, utility and topography conflicts. The west side interim action at the fire‑rescue headquarters will require a SEPA review, the director said.
Council voted by voice and approved authorization for the mayor to execute the agreed orders and to support one-time grant agreements with Eastside Fire & Rescue. Council members said the work has been months in preparation and emphasized pursuing additional state and federal funding for the uncovered costs.
Next steps include finalizing signature and implementation steps with Ecology, completing work plans and community engagement led by Ecology with city support, and beginning the remedial investigations and any interim actions.
