Untied States
Environmental Protection
Agency

National Priorities List (NPL

* * *Final Site * * *

MAKAH RESERVATION WARMHOUSE

BEACH DUMP

OSWER/OSRTI
Washington, DC 20460

December 2013

Neah Bay, Washington

Clallam County

(?) Site Location:

The Makah Reservation Warmhouse Beach Dump is located approximately 3 miles northwest of Neah Bay on a ridge
overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It is at the head of two unnamed creeks, and drainage is to the west and east via
these creeks. West Creek discharges to Warmhouse Beach and East Creek discharges to East Beach.

Site History:

The Warmhouse Beach Dump is an open dump which was in use from the early 1970s through October 2012. The dump
reportedly was used by the Makah Air Force Station on the reservation to dispose of municipal solid and hazardous wastes.
Following the closure of the Air Force Station in the late 1980s, the dump continued to be used by tribal members and non
members for the disposal of municipal solid wastes. Access to the dump was closed as of November 1, 2012.

I Site Contamination/Contaminants:

The active area of the dump is about 7 acres and the waste deposit is up to 40 feet in depth. As of the end of 2003, waste
volumes were estimated to be 55,000 to 65,000 cubic yards. Soils at the dump are contaminated with polyaromatic
hydrocarbons, pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, petroleum hydrocarbons, metals, dioxins and perchlorate. Surface
water in creeks contains elevated concentrations of perchlorate, lead, cadmium, manganese, copper and zinc. Sediments in
the creeks contain elevated concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene, perchlorate, cadmium, copper, lead, manganese, zinc and
polybrominated diphenyl ethers. Mussels at the beaches contain elevated concentrations of lead.

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