Anacortes council approves $566,653 contract change to study A Avenue landfill under state order

Anacortes city council on Feb. 17 approved a $566,653 contract modification with environmental consultant Anchor QEA to perform a remedial investigation (RI) at the former A Avenue landfill under an agreed order with the Washington State Department of Ecology.

Parks Director John Lunsford told the council the modification is part of an existing master services agreement and will fund site work and other RI tasks. Julia Fitz, a principal with Anchor QEA, said the RI work plan — currently in final review with Ecology — requires extensive soil, groundwater and surface-water sampling across the roughly seven-acre site, installation of long‑term groundwater monitoring wells, and surveying of adjacent wetlands and a nearby debris field.

"The intent of the RI is to assess whether there are contaminants present at the landfill that pose a risk to human health or the environment and that warrant cleanup," Fitz said, adding that the work will include two monitoring wells sampled over four quarters and seep sampling where groundwater discharges to surface water.

Council members asked about scale, scheduling and whether additional funding requests were likely. Fitz said the modification covers the RI and preparation of the RI report; Ecology will use the RI findings to decide whether a feasibility study (and additional contract phases) is needed. Public works and parks staff also noted the work spans two budget years (2026–2027) and that roughly $400,000 was budgeted for the project in 2026.

Councilmember Moulton made the motion to approve the contract modification, which passed by voice vote.

Next steps include final Ecology approval of the RI work plan, installation of monitoring wells and sampling over wet and dry seasons, and delivery of the RI report to Ecology. If the report indicates cleanup is required, the city could face additional technical and budgetary phases pending Ecology’s direction.