The state Department of Ecology invites the public to review and comment on an updated legal agreement for the cleanup of Camp Bonneville.
In August, the Board of Clark County Commissioners approved a new contract to clean up the former military reservation.
The Army used the 3,840-acre site in east county as an artillery range and training area from 1909 to 1995.
The multimillion-dollar cleanup, overseen by the state Department of Ecology, has crawled along and been marked by cost overruns and funding disputes.
Under the terms of the agreement signed by commissioners, the Army will pay $20 million over the next 10 years and Clark County will take the lead role in the cleanup.
Testing has found contaminated groundwater and soil contaminated with unexploded ordnance, explosive compounds, lead and other pollutants.
To review the proposed decree, go to https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/gsp/Sitepage.aspx?csid=11670. Or visit the Washington State University Vancouver Library, 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave.
Comments on the proposed decree will be accepted from today through Nov. 17. Comments may be mailed to: Ben Forson, site manager, Washington Department of Ecology, Toxics Cleanup Program, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600.
Comments may also be emailed to bfor461@ecy.wa.gov.
The county hopes to one day turn Camp Bonneville into a regional park.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been collecting and testing soil, groundwater and sediment samples in response to a citizen’s petition for Camp Bonneville to be declared a Superfund site. A report on the testing results is expected to be available by spring 2012.
