The K2 Corporation is moving forward in the process to get its property on Vashon declared either free of pollution or cleaned to state standards.
The state Department of Ecology (DOE) recently approved of K2’s plan to do new environmental testing at the site of its former factory on Vashon Highway, which is listed as contaminated by the state. The site is on DOE’s cleanup list because of diesel oil that leaked into the soil from a tank that was removed in 2008, but the state has not yet determined if a cleanup will be required there or anywhere else on the site.
After entering DOE’s Voluntary Cleanup Program last May, K2 hired the environmental consulting company Environmental Resources Management, which has offices in Seattle, to prepare a plan for investigating possible environmental contamination at the entire property, where K2 skis and snowboards were once made. The plan was submitted to the state for approval last December.
In an opinion letter dated Feb. 18, DOE stated that environmental testing performed years ago at K2 was limited in scope and did not provide sufficient information about the site and its history. However, K2’s newest plan, the letter says, constitutes an acceptable environmental investigation and plans for testing at spots where contamination is suspected. The letter notes that substances such as oil, pesticides and metals may have contaminated the site in the past, and it is unknown whether the groundwater was impacted.
“Since groundwater is an important resource on Vashon Island, a comprehensive evaluation needs to be performed. Shallow groundwater is likely present beneath the property and groundwater conditions have not been fully investigated,” the letter reads.
K2 entered the Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP) last year after it came close to selling the property to a legal marijuana company and the Backbone Campaign, a local political action group, raised concerns, saying it was unknown how much environmental contamination may be present there. The Backbone Campaign made public a document from a Seattle environmental consultant stating that previous environmental testing at the site was incomplete.
The nonprofit also circulated a petition asking that K2 enter the VCP and obtain a no further action (NFA) decision from the state before selling its property. Later the King County Council also approved a Vashon Town Plan amendment requiring any property listed as contaminated to obtain an NFA letter before being granted a change-of-use building permit.
Backbone Campaign Director Bill Moyer sent an email to the organization’s supporters on Feb. 22, calling the state’s recent opinion letter a confirmation that previous testing at the site was inadequate and more testing is needed.
“Jarden/K2 is on an ethical, responsible path and should be acknowledged for that,” he said in the email.
K2 is still at the beginning of the state’s Voluntary Cleanup Program process. Once it completes testing at the site, it will submit a report to the state for review. Should contamination be found there, the state could ask that it be cleaned or addressed in order for K2 to obtain an NFA letter.
