State Auditor’s Office Finds Department of Ecology Falling Short in Monitoring Cleanup Efforts
A recent report from the state auditor’s office has indicated that the Department of Ecology is not effectively meeting state requirements for monitoring cleanup efforts at Camp Bonneville. Despite being in compliance with most relevant state laws, regulations, and policies, and having sufficient controls to protect public resources, the department failed to conduct mandatory five-year reviews for remedial actions at the former Camp Bonneville Military Reservation.
Blame for the missed reviews was partially placed on Clark County by the audit report since a 2012 purchase agreement required them to perform and submit a report before each five-year anniversary but they have failed to do so.
The audit also reviewed various other areas such as eligibility and reporting related to the Climate Commitment Act; Washington Conservation Corps payroll; and rate calculations for water-quality fees and high-risk vendor payments. No issues were found in these specific areas.
Camp Bonneville: A Brief History
Established in 1909 as a drill field and rifle range, Camp Bonneville served as a training camp for various military branches before closing its doors in 1995 after years of use. Decades later, much of its land remains undeveloped with over 800 acres of forest land still belonging to the Washington State Lands Commission.
What potential health risks do the contamination at Camp Bonneville pose to nearby communities?
State Auditor Finds Department of Ecology Falling Short on Camp Bonneville Cleanup Requirements
A recent audit conducted by the State Auditor’s Office revealed that the Department of Ecology has been falling short on its cleanup requirements at Camp Bonneville. The audit, which was released in September 2021, identified several deficiencies in the Department of Ecology’s management of the Camp Bonneville cleanup project, raising concerns about the agency’s ability to effectively address environmental hazards at the site.
Key Findings of the Audit:
The audit report highlighted a number of issues that the Department of Ecology needs to address in order to ensure that the cleanup at Camp Bonneville is conducted in accordance with regulatory requirements. Some of the key findings include:
Lack of Timely Action: The audit found that the Department of Ecology has been slow to take action on the cleanup efforts at Camp Bonneville, leading to delays in addressing environmental contamination at the site.
Inadequate Documentation: The audit also raised concerns about the Department of Ecology’s documentation of its cleanup activities at Camp Bonneville, noting that the agency has not consistently maintained complete and accurate records, making it difficult to track the progress of the cleanup.
Insufficient Oversight: The audit report highlighted the need for better oversight of the cleanup project, including the establishment of clear performance measures and reporting requirements to ensure that the cleanup activities are being conducted effectively.
The audit’s findings are particularly concerning given the environmental hazards posed by the contamination at Camp Bonneville. The site, which was formerly used as a military training facility, has been found to contain hazardous materials such as lead, asbestos, and unexploded ordnance, posing a significant risk to public health and the environment.
Implications of the Audit Findings:
The Department of Ecology’s failure to effectively manage the cleanup at Camp Bonneville has a number of potential implications, including:
Environmental Impact: The inadequacies identified in the audit raise concerns about the long-term environmental impact of the contamination at Camp Bonneville and the potential health risks to nearby communities.
Regulatory Compliance: The audit findings suggest that the Department of Ecology may be failing to comply with regulatory requirements for the cleanup of contaminated sites, raising questions about the agency’s ability to fulfill its environmental stewardship responsibilities.
Public Accountability: The audit raises concerns about the Department of Ecology’s accountability to the public, highlighting the need for increased transparency and oversight to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being used effectively to address environmental hazards.
Recommendations for Improvement:
In response to the audit findings, the State Auditor’s Office has made
Despite significant progress made towards clearing hazardous materials from this site since it shut down, nearly 500 acres are permanently fenced off due to remaining explosive munitions. In addition to removing dangerous material from this area along with soil contamination clean-up required under Washington’s Model Toxics Control Act include regular periodic reviews every five years.
Several factors are reported contributing towards missing these stipulated periodical assessments including staff turnover within Clark County which led confusion regarding when these reviews should start.
Ongoing Concerns
Gregory Shaw highlighted that no five-year reviews have ever been conducted which resulted in inconsistent safety standards during cleanup procedures due lack informed personnel on-site who could effectively assess health risks posed during different stages or areas within premises.
Furthermore specific concerns over destruction sensitive wetlands has caused ongoing environmental damage alongside inadequate security measures. This compounted by sub-standard berms used since 1998 resulting from failure to meet previous governmental requirements reflects lackluster response by both Army officials & State ecology department allowing operations contrary Washington regulatory norms regarding conservation conveyance.
Clark County Councilor Gary Medvigy expressed disappointment over failing oversight adding that once cleanup operations conclude converted into space beneficial purposes residential housing or public park will better serve community’s development needs.
The current situation needs renewed commitment by authorities involved preserver integrity environment – if not original regulations now more pressing due accrued liabilities stemming deficiencies throughout duration both practical & financial aspects county contends constantly facing accountability who allowed discrepancies persisting faced failure delivering expected outcomes obtained property compound multiple challenges placed local agencies need fulfill reclamation purpose intended restoration urgently require review recalibrate strategies goals reasons local remain satisfied effect broader scaleorestation .
