Legacy Pesticides Working Group  

The Legacy Pesticides Working Group (LPWG) met from February 2020 to December 2020 to address the complex issues surrounding lead and arsenic contamination on former orchard lands in Central Washington. The effort is now concluded and Ecology thanks the members of the group for their time and effort. The final report can be found here.

Primary objectives for the LPWG included:

• Create a process for all properties to be evaluated (i.e., sampled)
• Notify buyers and/or current homeowners about the specifics of contamination on their property (Was it an old orchard? Was it sampled? What were the results? Was it cleaned up?)
• Identify actions that meet Ecology’s cleanup regulations
• Create a broad-based education strategy for the public about the manageable risk from lead and arsenic contamination

Background:

Lead arsenate was widely used throughout central Washington to control codling moth infestations to fruit trees in the early half of the 20^th Century (between 1900 and 1950). This resulted in widespread lead and arsenic contamination in former orchard lands in certain counties – mostly Yakima, Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan, and parts of Benton. Nearly 115,000 acres of land in Central Washington are considered historic orchard lands and are potentially contaminated by lead and arsenic. 

Maps can be found here

Maul, Foster & Alongi (MFA) and Chelan County produced this Final Report for the process. Click on the link below to read the report.

Final LPWG Report January 2021

Maul, Foster & Alongi (MFA) and Chelan County produced this Background Report in support of the Legacy Pesticide Working Group in October 2020. Click on the link below to read the report. 

Background & Research Technical Report 

MEETINGS:

Meeting Materials:

Lead and Arsenic Blog Posts:

Legacies of Lead and Arsenic - Part 1

Legacies of Lead and Arsenic - Part 2

Legacies of Lead and Arsenic - Part 3

Digging Into Specifics - Learn What's Coming up for the Legacy Pesticide Working Group 

Keeping the Legacy Pesticide Working Group Moving Forward 

Looking Back to Look Forward

LEGACY PESTICIDES WORKING GROUP MEMBERS: 

Ecology wants to hear from you. If you have any questions or comments, please contact:

Jill Scheffer
jill.scheffer@ecy.wa.gov
Section Planner, Toxics Cleanup Program
Washington Department of Ecology
Central Region Office
1250 West Alder Street
Union Gap, WA 98903
509-454-7834

If you are a member of the media, please contact: 

Cheryl Ann Bishop, PhD
cherylann.bishop@ecy.wa.gov 
Toxics Cleanup Program
Communications Manager
Desk: 360-407-6848;
Cell: 360-819-6247