Whitman County- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded the Port of Whitman County a $1.5 million Coalition Assessment Grant. The grant will allow the Port to continue its reuse and revitalization work on properties across Whitman County. 

“The Port is grateful to the EPA for this grant,” Port Commission President Karl Webber said. “Environmental assessments set the stage for environmental cleanup. Environmental cleanup, in turn, revitalizes contaminated properties and readies them for reuse. This is an effective tool for furthering economic development in Whitman County.” 

The Port’s Past Assessment Work

The Port began its environmental assessment work in 2023 with a $500,000 EPA Assessment Grant. During the grant period, the Port conducted four Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs), seven Phase II ESAs, two Analysis of Brownfield Cleanup Alternatives (ABCAs), and one reuse plan across five sites in Whitman County. 

St. John

The Port partnered with Whitman Hospital and Medical Clinics (WHMC) to assess and plan for the cleanup of a former petroleum depot for redevelopment as a medical clinic. The downtown St. John property was first identified as a potential site for a medical clinic by WHMC. After determining that environmental contamination may be present on the site, WHMC approached the Port for help in cleaning up the property. The Port conducted Phase I and Phase II ESAs and found contamination. In 2025, the Port received $500,000 from the EPA for cleanup of the St. John property. Cleanup of the site is expected to begin in the fall.  

Colfax

Rogers Brothers Seed Company

When the Port conducted a feasibility study to determine where to site a childcare facility in Colfax, the only property that fit the criteria was the former Rogers Brothers Seed Company site next to the Colfax Junior-Senior High School. The Port conducted 18 months of due diligence, including Phase I and Phase II ESAs and a Hazardous Building Materials Assessment. Those assessments found legacy contamination from the site’s use as a seed treatment facility from the 1940s-1980s. In June 2026, the Port was awarded $4 million in EPA funding to clean up the property.  

St. Ignatius Hospital

The former hospital is arguably Colfax’s most iconic structure. After the property owner nominated the site, the Port conducted a Phase I ESA and Site Reuse Analysis. The Phase I ESA found potential contamination in the old boiler house. To confirm contamination, a Phase II ESA will be conducted via $85,000 in funding from the Washington State Department of Ecology. 

Oakesdale

During a Phase I ESA of the Oakesdale Mill, the Port found minimal contamination on the southwestern corner of the property near the train tracks. Historical records showed a coal storage shed once operated in that location. The Port is working towards cleaning up the small section of the site that is affected. 

Tekoa

The City of Tekoa nominated a former railroad roundhouse under the Tekoa Trestle. The Port conducted a Phase I ESA and plans to conduct a Phase II with the new assessment funds.  

“Tekoa and the Port have a strong partnership,” said Mayor Roy Schulz. “We look forward to advancing our assessment of environmental contamination at the site and taking meaningful steps toward its cleanup." 

The Whitman County Brownfields Coalition

The EPA Assessment Coalition Grant differs slightly from the Port’s past EPA grant as it allows the Port to work with community partners and access greater funding for the assessment work. For this grant, the Port is partnering with the Innovia Foundation, City of Tekoa, City of Colfax, and Town of Malden to lead the Whitman County Brownfields Coalition. The Coalition, which includes members of the previously formed Brownfields Advisory Committee made up of one representative from each town in Whitman County, will work together to identify sites of interest for environmental assessment. 

"Brownfields don't just sit empty,” said Nolan Glueckert, Director of Community Development for the Innovia Foundation. “They hold back the communities around them. As a partner in the Whitman County Brownfields Coalition, Innovia Foundation is proud to help the Port and its partner cities turn contaminated, underused properties into community assets. This is exactly the kind of practical, place-based investment that builds thriving rural economies for the long term." 

Environmental Assessments

Environmental assessments are crucial tools for the reuse and revitalization of properties contaminated with hazardous materials, pollutants, or other contaminants. These properties, commonly known as brownfields, are located throughout the United States. Environmental assessments help determine the nature of contamination and the cleanup activities required to ready the contaminated property for redevelopment. Phase I ESAs determine if environmental contamination is suspected via review of historical land uses and regulatory databases, a site visit for visual inspection, and interviews with related parties. Phase II ESAs confirm the presence of contamination through soil boring, groundwater monitoring, and soil vapor testing.  

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About Brownfields

A brownfield site is a formerly used piece of property that may be contaminated with hazardous materials, pollutants, or other contaminants. Common contaminants include lead, petroleum, asbestos, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, and other metals.  

About the Port of Whitman County

The Port of Whitman County is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all citizens of Whitman County through industrial real estate development, preservation of multi-modal transportation, facilitation of economic development and provision of on-water recreational opportunities. For more information about Port properties and ongoing projects, visit the Port website, www.portwhitman.com.