Council approves $34,690 contract modification for A Avenue Landfill investigation
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Summary
Anacortes approved a $34,690 modification to a master services agreement with Anchor QEA to finalize remedial investigation planning for the A Avenue Landfill; the work is required under an agreed order with Washington State and is estimated to lead to a larger 2026 investigation.
The Anacortes City Council on Oct. 20 authorized a $34,690 modification to contract 21024LEG001 with Anchor QEA to finalize a remedial investigation work plan and related quality assurance project plan for the A Avenue Landfill.
Councilmember Moulton moved to authorize the mayor to sign the modification; Mr. McDougall seconded the motion. The council approved the contract modification by roll call. Council members recorded in the meeting minutes as voting yes were: Mr. Fantini, Mr. Young, Mr. Walters, Miss Cooley McGrath, Miss Moulton, Mr. McDougall and Miss Kubick. The vote carried and increased the total contract price to $2,325,623.
City staff said the work funds finalization of how water and soil monitoring and testing will be done at the former municipal landfill. The A Avenue Landfill operated from the 1940s to about 1970; it was capped and monitored under Skagit County public health in 2003 and received a “no further action” finding from the state in 2006. Residents requested additional monitoring in 2019 after the city considered siting a bicycle pump track on the capped site; the revised oversight placed the site back on the state contaminated‑site list and triggered requirements under the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA).
The contract modification covers Anchor QEA’s work with the Washington State Department of Ecology to finalize the remedial investigation work plan and quality assurance plan. City staff said the full remedial study is expected to occur in 2026 and estimated the cost of that work at about $300,000; the current modification is $34,690 and will be charged to the city’s solid waste fund.
The council packet and staff presentation referenced the state’s public website for the site and noted the city is working under an agreed order with the Department of Ecology, making the investigation mandatory unless the city pursues litigation or other negotiated changes with the state.
The council approved the contract modification during regular session; the motion increased the total contract to $2,325,623 and directs staff to continue the mandated investigation process.
