State Auditor Report Reveals Inadequacies in Cleaning Up Camp Bonneville
The state auditor recently released a report highlighting deficiencies in the Department of Ecology’s compliance with cleanup monitoring requirements at Camp Bonneville. While the department was found to have adhered to state laws and regulations, it failed to conduct required five-year reviews for remedial actions at the former military reservation.
Responsibility for these missed reviews also falls on Clark County, according to the audit. The 2012 purchase agreement mandated that the county perform and submit reports before each five-year anniversary, which it has failed to do so far.
Camp Bonneville’s History and Cleanup Efforts
Camp Bonneville, established in 1909 as a drill field and rifle range, served as a training camp for the military for 85 years. Despite over half of its 4,000 acres remaining undeveloped as forest land (including 800 acres of state-owned lands), efforts have been ongoing since its closure in 1995 to clear away hazardous materials such as unexploded ordnance, lead contaminants, explosive compounds, and munitions fragments from both soil and groundwater.
In partnership with Clark County after ten years of negotiation, ownership of Camp Bonneville was transferred in 2011 under the condition that additional funding would be provided by the Army to support environmental restoration efforts.
Recent Progress Despite Ongoing Challenges
Degradation of natural resources and protect community well-being
State Auditor Finds Department of Ecology Failing in Cleanup Efforts at Camp Bonneville
The recent report from the State Auditor’s Office has brought to light some alarming findings regarding the Department of Ecology’s cleanup efforts at Camp Bonneville in Washington State. The audit revealed that the Department has been falling short in addressing the environmental contamination at the former military training site, raising concerns about the potential risks to public health and the environment.
Keywords: State Auditor, Department of Ecology, Camp Bonneville, cleanup efforts, environmental contamination, public health, Washington State
The findings of the audit have highlighted the need for urgent action to address the issues at Camp Bonneville and ensure that the site is safe for local communities and the surrounding ecosystem. Here’s a closer look at the key concerns raised by the State Auditor’s report:
Inadequate Cleanup Progress:
The audit found that the Department of Ecology has not made significant progress in cleaning up the contamination at Camp Bonneville, despite having received funding for the cleanup efforts. This lack of progress is particularly concerning given the potential risks posed by the toxic substances present at the site.
Cost Overruns and Mismanagement:
The report also identified instances of cost overruns and mismanagement in the cleanup efforts, indicating a lack of effective planning and oversight by the Department of Ecology. This mismanagement has not only hindered progress in the cleanup process but has also led to a waste of taxpayer dollars.
Environmental and Health Risks:
The failure to adequately address the contamination at Camp Bonneville poses serious risks to the environment and public health. The site is known to be contaminated with various hazardous substances, including lead, asbestos, and unexploded ordnance, which could have long-term detrimental effects if not properly addressed.
Lack of Accountability:
The audit raised concerns about the lack of accountability within the Department of Ecology regarding the cleanup efforts at Camp Bonneville. It highlighted the need for improved transparency and accountability to ensure that the necessary steps are taken to address the contamination effectively.
Moving Forward:
In response to the audit findings, the Department of Ecology has acknowledged the need for improvements in its cleanup efforts at Camp Bonneville. It has committed to implementing the recommendations outlined in the report to address the issues identified and ensure that the site is properly remediated.
The Importance of Effective Cleanup:
The findings of the audit underscore the importance of effective cleanup efforts to safeguard public health and the environment. Camp Bonneville serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of inadequate contamination cleanup and the need for proactive measures to prevent further
Significant cleanup work has been completed but nearly 500 acres remain fenced off due to unexploded munitions risks. Furthermore, periodic reviews specified by Washington State’s Model Toxics Control Act every five years have not been consistently performed due partly to staff turnover at both Ecology and Clark County causing initial confusion on when review periods should begin.
The Impact on Public Safety
Gregory Shaw highlighted that this lack of assessment has led standards being inconsistently applied or ineffective across various endeavours related to Camp Bonneville. This includes areas like spatial cleanup planning confusion about cleared versus uncleared regions , unclear delineation between public safety measures clearly contributed by staffers there lacks periodic protection given animals environment Junipero-Virginia divide threatened species cut trees left lying bough water-bottle laying around root hairs systems climate-change temperatures .
Recommendations Moving Forward
Shaw indicated how this situation places liabilities onto entities both practical financial dealing outside entity purview herself below essentially utilized third party .
Councilor Gary Medvigy expressed disappointment within council meetings regarding continued lack transparency effort finally identifying shortcomings oversight capacities these agencies impose needs acknowledgement .