Clark County’s (County) role, as the landowner, is to manage the property, the remediation of the site, and the day-to-day operation of the site.

The Department of Defense (DOD) is responsible for reviewing and approving actions that will be funded by the DOD.

The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) is the agency responsible for regulatory oversight of the cleanup activities and ensuring compliance with the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA). All inquiries, concerns, or requests for information regarding cleanup at Camp Bonneville may be directed to Ecology. This increases efficiency in communications and ensures that inquiries are addressed accurately and in compliance with state regulations.

Ecology is also responsible for the cleanup’s associated public participation plan. They prepare and periodically update the public participation plan to ensure community involvement is both effective and responsive to the needs of Camp Bonneville and interested parties. They have expressed their commitment to maintaining transparency and fostering community involvement throughout the process. Interested parties should refer to Ecology’s public participation plan and the guidelines established therein. The plan provides comprehensive information on how to engage effectively and constructively in the ongoing cleanup efforts at Camp Bonneville. The plan also includes mechanisms for public information dissemination and feedback, ensuring that the community is well-informed and actively engaged in the cleanup process. Ecology retains leadership and authority over the public participation plan and is responsible for its implementation. Clark County collaborates with Ecology by providing local insights and supporting the public involvement process.

Yes, only Remedial Action unit 2c, known as Landfill 4/Demolition Area 1 and often referred to as “sitewide groundwater” is still in active cleanup status.

Public Works presented updated information to Clark County Council on Oct. 9, 2024. A video of the presentation is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q50iM7IqKok. The remedial investigation/feasibility study for remedial action unit 2c is in development by PBS (the environmental consultant contracted for monitoring groundwater for contaminants associated with Landfill 4). A draft of the document is expected soon and will be submitted to Ecology for review. Ecology will hold a public hearing and public comment period for the remedial investigation/feasibility study as part of their process.

The fourth quarter 2023 report did not show increases in groundwater contamination. The report includes trend analyses showing statistically significant trends in data since 2015. The data for a small number of wells sampled shows trends indicating possible increases over time of perchlorate and RDX contamination. The data for most wells shows decreases or no change in the levels of contaminants detected.

Ecology has requested an additional surface-water sampling location along the North Fork Lacamas Creek near Landfill 4. The sampling location is intended to replicate a sampling location from a 2012 EPA investigation where surface water collected from seeps detected perchlorate. This detection has not been replicated in surface water since. The new testing location is intended to attempt to replicate the 2012 sampling.

The timeline for cleanup of RAU 2c is uncertain at this time. It may take several years to complete.

Quarterly groundwater monitoring reports from PBS have been completed, but their publication was delayed due to a request from Ecology to make changes in the reporting format. The first quarter 2024 report has been submitted to Ecology and should be available to the community soon. The second quarter report will follow shortly after.

The County is not aware of any programs that would provide such resources. We have consulted the Department of Ecology, Washington State Department of Health, and Clark County Public Health; all are unaware of programs or resources for water testing.

The United States Department of Defense has funded the cleanup of Camp Bonneville. It has cost approximately $78,199,284 through 2024.

Decisions regarding past periodic reviews were made by prior County and Ecology staff. Anecdotally, the decision was made, but not documented, to hold off on periodic reviews until cleanup for all remedial action units was complete.

Periodic reviews are governed by Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 173-340-420. A report supporting the periodic review is to be prepared by the County and generally include: a compilation and review of documents supporting the cleanup activities; a review of institutional controls, site inspections, monitoring reports, and other documentation; interviews of responsible staff; site inspections; and preparing a report for Ecology that summarizes this information, including new scientific information or laws pertaining to hazardous substances and the availability and practicability of new or improved technologies for performing or evaluating the cleanup. Ecology then uses this report to finalize the periodic review and hold a public meeting and public comment period.

The County and Ecology are coordinating to schedule and complete the current reviews and all future reviews.

The current periodic review report is due from Clark County to Ecology by Jan. 20, 2025. Clark County will need to complete the next periodic review report within five years.

The purpose of the Camp Bonneville Advisory Group was to independently review the cleanup status. Ecology issued a memorandum on Aug. 27, 2024, confirming the no-further-action letters for each remedial action unit were accurate. The County and Ecology are conducting a periodic review of cleanup of all remedial action units, except 2c. The advisory group’s efforts would have duplicated this process. Council approved the dissolution of the CAG at the council meeting on Oct. 9, 2024.

The County and Ecology are conducting a periodic review of cleanup of all remedial action units, except 2c. A summary will be provided for remedial action unit 2c. The community will have an opportunity to review this information through Ecology’s public comment period and a public meeting.

The County will continue to update this document with the concerns and questions that are raised by the community. This document is organized by topic and contains answers that include citations and links, as requested by the community.

The property was transferred to the county in 2006 pursuant to a quit claim deed from the United States Government, and pursuant to a memorandum of agreement between the Department of Army and the County for early transfer which was also executed in 2006. To review the quitclaim deed, please go to https://clark.wa.gov/media/document/175751.  

The site is currently not open to the public. The cleanup project needs to be completed and a master plan developed prior to any potential public use of the site.  

Public Works is aware of a limited number of reports of trespassers accessing the property on ATVs. Staff have been working to inspect and repair portions of the boundary fence along portions of the west, south, and north boundaries, and has hired a contractor to repair and improve a section of fence near the Livingston Mountain quarry.

Prior to consideration of any park development, Washington State Department of Ecology needs to approve that the cleanup has been completed and approve the plan for sitewide institutional controls. Institutional controls are instruments designed to minimize the potential for human exposure to contamination and/or protect the integrity of the remediation. The County will then complete a master plan for the site after these approvals. Then the County would work through our capital improvement planning process for any park development or project at this site. 

Future public use of the property is dependent upon completion of all cleanup actions. Any and all future uses must be consistent with the Prospective Purchaser Consent Decree, the Re-Use Plan, and all applicable institutional or engineering controls and deed restrictions in place as a result of the cleanup actions. At this time (November 2024), there is no estimate of the timeline required to complete the cleanup and begin reuse discussions.

Camp Bonneville is identified as a regional natural area in the current PROS Plan and is already included in the calculation for our regional park LOS. Therefore, if the site is opened to the public, the entire 3,840 acres is considered and accounted for in the LOS calculations. Opening the site to the public would not alter the LOS for regional parks, as these acres are currently factored into our service metrics.

Public Works used a skid steer to clear brush along the fence line of the west boundary, portions of the north and east boundaries, and portions of the central impact target area fence line. Total linear feet cleared will need to be calculated. Staff are trained to recognize, retreat, and report any sign of munitions and explosives of concern to the county’s UXO Level 1 Technician. Staff has not observed any suspicious materials during their work.

In case of a wildfire at Camp Bonneville, all non-essential personnel would be asked to leave the camp immediately. Clark County Public Works would then work with local fire response officials including Clark County Fire District 3, East County Fire District and the Department of Natural Resources to determine the extent of any evacuations. Public Works regularly works with fire response agencies and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office to share evacuation information with residents during wildfires.  

Clark County Public Works relies on the expertise of Clark County Fire District 3, East County Fire District and the Department of Natural Resources to lead fire response at Camp Bonneville. Clark County has also entered into an agreement with the Department of Natural Resources for helicopter resources to be on site five months out of the year.   

County law enforcement and FBI with access to the property scan their digital access cards to gain entry to the property and this creates an electronic record with the individual’s name, and the date and time of access.

The Camp Bonneville Reuse Plan (September 1998, Revised in 2003 and 2005) identified this as an allowed use. Please refer to section 4.5.1 (Potential Future Use as part of a Regional Park) and section 4.5.7 (FBI Firing Range) of the plan. The reuse plan is considered by the Army as the primary document that describes the intended reuse of the property (see Finding of Suitability for Early Transfer, Page 21; see also Prospective Purchaser Consent Decree, Paragraphs 39 and 108). The reuse plan can be accessed at https://clark.wa.gov/sites/default/files/dept/files/public-works/Camp_Bonneville/CampBonnevilleReusePlan.pdf. The Findings of Suitability for Early Transfer can be accessed at https://clark.wa.gov/media/document/175741. The Prospective Purchaser Consent Decree can be accessed at https://clark.wa.gov/media/document/175746.  

The expectation is, if allowed, law enforcement activities would be limited to the FBI range, and the Washington Department of Ecology would approve that type of use.

The Camp Bonneville Reuse Plan, dated 1998 and revised in 2003 and 2005, identified this as an allowed use. The FBI firing range at Camp Bonneville is an active facility under federal management. In active firing ranges, the presence of lead from bullets is managed in compliance with applicable environmental guidelines.

As per the guidance provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, specifically in the document "Best Management Practices for Lead at Outdoor Shooting Ranges" (EPA-902-B-01-001), there are well-established procedures for managing lead in active ranges. These practices are designed to mitigate environmental impacts while the range is in operation.

Once the range is no longer in operation, the remediation is the responsibility of the operating entity. In this case, it is understood that the federal government, whether through the Department of Defense or the FBI, will be responsible for the range's cleanup when it is no longer active (see Ecology’s Aug. 18, 2021, letter to Greg Shaw). The cleanup will be conducted under the oversight of the state's Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) authority, which requires remediation of lead concentrations above 250 ppm.

Public Works and the Clark County Sheriff’s Office are working on an updated agreement. A draft is currently (as of November 2024) under review.

The decision about the long-term use of the site, including the shooting range, will be decided through the master planning process. The Camp Bonneville Reuse Plan has identified a shooting range as an allowed use at the site long-term. The plan can be accessed at https://clark.wa.gov/sites/default/files/dept/files/public-works/Camp_Bonneville/CampBonnevilleReusePlan.pdf. 

The Sheriff’s Office is aware of the site’s limitations, and these will be included in the updated agreement.

The County is not aware of any issues with the FBI not meeting the financial obligations of the previous agreement. The current proposed agreement does include compensation to be paid to the County by the FBI for their use of the shooting range.

Although the scope of the Camp Bonneville Reuse Plan, dated 1998 and revised in 2003 and 2005, provides for a broad range of training operations, a new interlocal agreement (ILA) will reassess the activities and set forth more specific parameters regarding these activities and the use of specific areas by federal and local law enforcement agencies.   

Since the FBI is a federal agency under the jurisdiction of the United States, field offices are considered part of the FBI organization regardless of location. Thus, the FBI is in compliance with the terms of the 2012 use agreement.