Buying the Farm - Could owning a piece of the homestead be hazardous to your health?

When Jed Clampet loaded up the truck and moved to Beverly . . . Hills that is . . . he left behind a rural homestead peculating with oil and black tar. And he was pleased as punch to leave it behind for whoever bought it. Although this fictional depiction was never meant to be taken literally, many of today's homes are being built on lands that were formerly working farms. These farms included fuel storage facilities, machine shops and repair yards, pesticide storage facilities, fertilizer storage and family refuse piles. In those days the old man who ran the place would have never allowed his children to play near any of those areas. Now those areas may be your backyard. Are the kids playing in it right now?
All across the country, family farms are being sold for real estate development. Many people consider the bucolic origin as a sign that the land is pristine. Unfortunately, without a soil checkup, they may be inheriting unexpected problems. However, a simple inspection would not only ease their mind, but their pocketbook as well, by demonstrating due diligence in the transaction. The Remediators provides residential environmental site assessments to meet this need. Call 360-565-2065 or visit www.greenlightsoil.com for information.

"Tanks, but no tanks" Washington state provides spill insurance to tank owners who register their tanks. Are you insured?

The mission of the Pollution Liability Insurance Agency (PLIA) is to make pollution liability insurance available and affordable to the owners and operators of regulated petroleum underground storage tanks (USTs) and heating oil tanks by offering reinsurance services to the insurance industry. In 1995 the Legislature added pollution liability coverage for heating oil tanks to PLIA's responsibilities (heating oil tanks are not covered under the UST reinsurance program). The program was created in response to the rising number of heating oil tank releases and the significant impact contamination had on property values, as well as the environment.Website http://www.plia.wa.gov/ The Remediators Inc. can help with tank replacement or removals, and provides soil cleanup services when leaks or spills are encountered. Call 360-565-2065 or visit www.theremediators.com for more information.

Drinking water smell funny? Well, well, well.

MTBE, which has been around since the late 1970s, was first used to boost octane in gasoline as lead was phased out as an "anti-engine knock" additive. Prior to 2001, it was added to gasoline to enhance combustion, thus reducing emissions of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and other combustion by-products. Although banned in Washington in 2001, according to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) analysis, there were more than 2,600 sites in Washington state awaiting cleanup from MTBE contamination in 2002. Most people can detect MTBE by a strong taste and odor that is described as turpentine-like. The drinking water advisory for MTBE recommends water quality control levels of MTBE not exceed 20 to 40 parts per billion. The EPA has ruled, based on information so far, that this level of detection provides a wide margin of safety from any possible toxic effect. The National Ground Water Association recommends that well owners get their water tested annually. Visit their website for more info http://www.wellowner.org/awaterquality/mtbe.shtml