Council approves $566,653 contract modification for A Avenue landfill remedial investigation
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Summary
The Anacortes City Council authorized a $566,653 modification to a master services agreement with Anchor QEA to fund a remedial investigation (soil, groundwater, seep sampling and monitoring wells) at the former A Avenue landfill under an agreed order with the Washington State Department of Ecology. Work is expected through June 2027.
The Anacortes City Council on Feb. 17 approved a $566,653 modification to the city's Anchor QEA contract to carry out a remedial investigation (RI) at the former A Avenue landfill.
Parks Director John Lunsford told the council the change is part of a broader master services agreement and that the $566,653 request will be billed across two budget years, 2026 and 2027. "The city entered into an agreed order in 2025 with the Washington State Department of Ecology," Lunsford said, describing the RI as the next step in the state's cleanup process.
Julia Fitz, principal at Anchor QEA, said the RI work plan — currently in final Ecology review — lays out extensive soil sampling across the landfill footprint and perimeter, installation of permanent groundwater monitoring wells for quarterly sampling over four quarters, seep and surface-water sampling, and surveying to document the debris field and wetland areas. "Ecology is also requiring groundwater sampling," Fitz said, explaining that samples will be collected in wet and dry seasons to inform whether contaminants pose risks that would require cleanup.
The RI will produce an RI report that screens data against relevant cleanup standards and will determine whether a feasibility study evaluating cleanup alternatives is necessary. Fitz said the work is expected to continue through June 2027.
Councilmember Miss Moulton moved to authorize modification of contract 21024LEG001 with Anchor QEA for the $566,653 increase; the motion was approved by voice vote.
The contract modification raises the combined contract total to $2,892,276. City staff said about $400,000 of the project was budgeted for 2026 and that the remainder will span into 2027. Council members asked about the project footprint (Fitz estimated roughly seven acres) and the labor intensity of installing monitoring wells in wetland and forested terrain.
Next steps: staff will finalize the RI work plan with Ecology, proceed to field sampling and well installation, and compile the RI report for Ecology review. Ecology and the RI results will determine whether further cleanup phases are required.