A soil study approved by Port of Walla Walla commissioners Thursday should help determine whether land used by the Walla Walla Gun Club has been contaminated by old clay pigeons.
Landau & Associates in Kennewick will conduct a site characterization study of land leased by the Gun Club on the west side of the Walla Walla Regional Airport property. Cost of the study is $14,950, said Commission Chairman Paul Schneidmiller.
Schneidmiller said he expects the study to begin sometime in January. Landau & Associates will take samples of soil from the site, analyze the soil and report its findings to the Port of Walla Walla.
The organization will be looking for carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or cPAH. That compound is believed to have come from clay pigeons used before the 1970s. Back then, the clay pigeons were made of coal tar. CPAH is suspected of contributing to cancer if its dust particles are inhaled.
The Port of Walla Walla first heard about the compound in an article about the city of Arlington, which reportedly spent nearly $700,000 to clean up clay pigeon shards that accumulated at an old shooting range near the municipal airport there.
Port of Walla Walla commissioners unanimously approved the soil study Thursday.
Commissioners also discussed a possible solution for removing nitrates in the Burbank water system. No action was taken on that issue. Commissioners will continue the discussion at their next meeting.
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