GEORGE PETROCCIONE / Democrat-Herald

A toxic solvent used as a degreaser has been found in the soil near what until recently was a dry-cleaning business in the Santiam Plaza in Sweet Home.

Toxic solvent found in SH soil

By George Petroccione

Albany Democrat-Herald

SWEET HOME - Tetrachloroethylene (PCE), a solvent used as a degreaser in the dry-cleaning industry, has been found in the soil near a building slated for demolition in Sweet Home.

The chemical was found near a building at the west end of the Santiam Plaza that formerly housed the Sweet Home Veterinary Clinic, Pacific Crest Electric and the Plaza Laundry and Dry Cleaners.

Contamination in the vicinity of dry-cleaning plants is not a new problem. Several years ago PCE was detected at eight sites in Lebanon, with all but one being a former or present dry-cleaning location. All have undergone some kind of cleanup or are being monitored by the state Department of Environmental Quality.

Bob Siegmund of Commercial Investment Properties of Eugene, who manages the plaza for its owners, said it is not known at this time how the soil became contaminated.

The contamination came to light when environmental testing was done earlier this year as part of a plan to redevelop the west end of the shopping center.

This is the second phase of a modernization of the 39-year-old shopping center that saw the old Safeway store torn down last year and rebuilt on the same spot.

Siegmund said after the cleanup takes place his company and the owners hope to attract businesses that will be compatible with Safeway, such as a fast food restaurant or a credit union.

Siegmund said the environmental testing was required as part of getting financing for the project.

The property manager said that there have been a series of dry-cleaners who have operated at the site since it was built in 1962. The most recent operated until November, when all of the tenants' leases expired.

Testing has shown the concentration of contamination ranges from one part per billion to 62,000 parts per billion, with a nationally established acceptable level in drinking water set at five parts per billion, Siegmund said.

Siegmund said the owners - the four Whittaker brothers, one lives in Southern California, another on the East Coast and the two others in Portland - are working with the DEQ to clean up the toxic waste.

He said the first step will be to do a survey to see if there are any wells in the area. It is believed that most people receive their water through the municipal water system.

The Whittakers have owned the shopping center for the past 12 years.

"We're long-term players in the community," Siegmund said. "We'll get this resolved and build phase two."

George Petroccione reports on east Linn County from the Democrat-Herald's Lebanon Bureau. He can be reached at 258-6441 or george.petroccione@dhonline.com.