Headlines & History since 1879 Goldendale, Washington
WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2026
Vol. 147 No. 18
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Public comment open on cleanup of aluminum plant site
The stink over biosolids Some in the county are holding their noses over the use of processed human waste Lorrie Fox For The Sentinel
This article is the first in a series. On most days in the rural farming community of Centerville, the prevailing wind carries the familiar seasonal scents of tilled soil, rain-soaked earth, fresh-cut hay, or newly combined wheat across the landscape. But recently, Paige Graham, who moved to the area last spring with her husband, noticed a strangely pungent odor in the air. “On Tuesday I smelled an awful stench,” she recalled when she sat down a while ago to write about the smell. “It seemed to be coming from literally every direction. It has been this way for the past three days. I cannot open windows, doors, or even put my vehicle into the garage because of this pervasive smell. Then I find out this morning that the property to the northwest of ours is spreading human excrement onto their fields.” Graham was referring to the agricultural use of Class B biosolids, a regulated byproduct of wastewater treatment at municipal sewage plants, utilized in soil nutrient recovery and wastewater
management. She learned this in discussion with the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology). Graham’s comments highlight how spreading biosolids on fields can be experienced by residents living near those sites. According to Ecology, biosolids are the nutrient-rich solids left after wastewater is treated at municipal sewage plants. After treatment, excess water is removed and the solid material is further processed into a usable product that can be applied to farmland, forests, or compost operations. In Washington, biosolids have been used on farms and other agricultural lands under state permits and oversight from Ecology since the 1980s. Federal regulations divide biosolids from sewage into two primary categories: Class A and Class B. Class A biosolids receive additional treatment that reduces pathogens to very low or undetectable levels and may be used in products sold to the public. Class B biosolids are treated to significantly reduce pathogens but are generally limited to permitted agricultural, forestry, and reclamation sites, with setback distances, waiting periods, and access restrictions.
There are also agricultural biosolids from dairy cattle, and their use is less restricted, a representative from Ecology said. A brief history of biosolids For much of the early 20th century, sewage sludge was commonly dumped in oceans, rivers, streams, ditches, or landfills. As environmental laws changed, communities were required to find safer ways to manage growing volumes of wastewater residuals. During the 1980s, many utilities shifted toward what regulators call “beneficial use,” recycling treated solids onto farmland as a soil amendment rather than burying them in landfills. That transition developed alongside the federal (1972) Clean Water Act and stricter wastewater treatment standards. In states with large agricultural regions, biosolids came to be viewed as a way to recover nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus while also reducing disposal costs. Large metropolitan areas like Seattle, Tacoma, and other cities throughout western Washington generate far more wastewater solids than they can use locally. According to the King County Biosolids Program Strategic Plan
The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is seeking public input on plans to clean up contamination from the former Columbia Gorge Aluminum smelter. A portion of the site is the proposed location of the Goldendale Energy Storage Project. State law requires removing and containing the contamination at the site regardless of whether the proposed energy project is constructed. If the project is not developed, remediation for this section of the property would be incorporated into another cleanup plan for the site. “Our number one priority is restoring the environment and removing toxic chemicals left over from the facility,” said Peter Lyon, who manages Ecology’s industrial permitting program that is responsible for regulating cleanup work at the site. “That is our goal at every cleanup site, and it does not change based on a location’s potential for redevelopment. This site is no exception.” The pumped storage project, proposed by FFP Project 101, would generate electricity by controlling the flow of water between an uphill and downhill reservoir. The lower reservoir would be located on part of the former smelter property. Lyon said that Ecology is ne-
gotiating a legal agreement with FFP Project 101 that requires the developer to invest additional resources for a faster, more expansive cleanup process than the minimum required by state law. Located next to the Columbia River near Goldendale, the smelter processed construction materials from the early 1970s until its closure in 2003. Its operations left contaminants like fluoride and heavy metals in both groundwater and soil. Since 2014, Ecology has worked with landowner NSC Smelter, LLC and past facility operator Lockheed Martin to clean up the contamination under an agreed order. Both parties are currently working with Ecology to draft cleanup plans for the remainder of the site. This comment period does not influence construction of the proposed pumped storage project, which is authorized by a separate hydropower license. That license was issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Jan. 22, 2026. It requires FFP Project 101 to finalize a cleanup plan with Ecology’s approval by Jan. 22, 2027. From now to June 16, 2026, Ecology is accepting comments on the proposed cleanup plan and the legal agreement requir-
See Comment page A8
See Biosolids page A8
Judge blocks state’s new sheriff standards law Jake Goldstein-Street Washington State Standard Washington’s new law setting stricter eligibility standards for sheriffs was partially blocked in state court last Wednesday, one day before much of it was set to take effect. The preliminary decision from a Thurston County Superior Court judge came in response to a lawsuit four eastern Washington sheriffs filed against the state. Senate Bill 5974 established new, equal standards for county sheriffs, who are usually elected, and police chiefs, who are appointed. Failing to meet the new requirements or getting state certification revoked is grounds for removal from office under the new law. Wednesday’s court ruling blocks those elements of the law as they relate to sheriffs. The sheriffs argue that the law undermines the will of voters by creating an administrative path to force elected sheriffs from of-
fice if they don’t meet the new requirements. The state plans to appeal the ruling. The sheriffs, calling the law “blatantly, flagrantly unconstitutional,” asked Judge Christine Schaller to temporarily halt it from going into effect on an emergency basis while the litigation continues. “It is a fundamental right to run for elected office, and to vote for elected office, with very, very few exceptions,” Schaller said, finding the Legislature “may have exceeded its constitutional authority.” “It appears that the Legislature does not trust the people of the state of Washington to have good judgment” to elect sheriffs who promote trust in law enforcement and enhance public safety, the judge continued in lengthy remarks, delivering her ruling for over 40 minutes. Schaller noted that the remedy to remove a disappointing elected official should be the next
election, and “should not be to attempt to limit the candidate pool or only allow a narrow class of people to be in a candidate pool by creating multiple qualifications for an elected office.” The new criteria for sheriffs include at least five years of law enforcement experience, no felony or gross misdemeanor convictions, being at least 25 years old, and no history of actions that would get state certification as a peace officer revoked. In cases where a sheriff is removed from office, county officials would appoint a replacement. If they don’t already have it, sheriffs need to get state certification from the Criminal Justice Training Commission within nine months of taking office. Until now, they’ve had a year. Five-member hearing panels from the Criminal Justice Training Commission make final decisions on decertification. The panels include three civilians and two police officials. These decisions
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County holds childcare workshop Rodger Nichols For The Sentinel
The Klickitat County Commission meeting of April 27 changed its format slightly, inserting a nearly two-hour childcare workshop between its morning work session and afternoon formal session. The workshop attracted a number of attendees by Zoom, including District 17 State Senator Paul Harris. Lynn Mason of Rural Solutions opened by recounting a visit to Families First, a model childcare center in Boardman, Oregon. The impetus for the trip came from White Salmon resident Gabrielle Gilbert, a longtime advocate, and regular contributor to the Commission’s weekly public comment period, organized a field
trip to the model Childcare Center in Boardman, Oregon Brenda Profit, the director of that center, presented a detailed overview of its successful public-private partnership funding model, which relies on an “enterprise zone” and corporate sponsorships to subsidize costs. She told commissioners that investing in childcare may be an expense up front, but it is a money generator in the end. “Childcare actually pays for the investment,” she said, “because now you put more people to work. More people are paying property taxes; more people are paying sales taxes.” Gabrielle Gilbert wrapped up the session with a discussion on the regulatory and bureaucratic barriers faced by individuals
trying to open home daycares in Washington. In the afternoon session, there was one note of interest on the controversial bill passed by the last legislative session to curtail the power of county sheriffs, and in some cases remove a legally elected sheriff. John Bruce, who is a longtime law enforcement officer and a candidate for Klickitat County Sheriff told commissioners “I just wanted to update you that tomorrow there will be an emergency hearing over in Thurston County on one of the lawsuits against the new law from Senate Bill 5974,” he said, “because the law is supposed to take effect on Thursday. We’ll see whether or not next week for filing week we
See County page A8
Wildfire Awareness Month is a time to prepare early Lou Marzeles Editor As warmer weather settles across Washington, state officials are urging residents to take proactive steps to protect their homes and communities from the growing danger of wildfires. May marks National Wildfire Awareness Month, a nationwide effort to educate the public about wildfire risks and promote practical preparedness measures. In Washington, the campaign is being led by Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR), who emphasize that even small actions can significantly reduce wildfire damage. The observance also aligns with National Community Wildfire Preparedness Day, held each year on May 2, reinforcing the message that wildfire safety is not just an individual responsibility but a community-wide effort. Wildfires have become an increasingly persistent concern throughout the Pacific Northwest, with longer fire seasons and drier conditions contributing to more frequent and intense fires. While rural and forested areas often bear the brunt of wildfire damage, officials stress that no part of the state is entirely immune.
“No one is immune from the impacts of wildfire,” Upthegrove said in a statement released by DNR. That reality has shifted how state agencies approach wildfire preparedness. Rather than focusing solely on firefighting response, there is now a stronger emphasis on prevention and resilience — steps that can be taken long before flames appear on the horizon. Defensible space: a critical first step One of the most effective ways homeowners can protect their property is by creating what experts call “defensible space,” a buffer zone between a structure and the surrounding vegetation. According to DNR, this can include relatively simple tasks such as: • Removing dry leaves, pine needles, and debris from roofs and gutters • Trimming back overgrown shrubs and tree branches • Keeping grass short and well-watered • Moving firewood and other combustible materials at least 30 feet away from buildings These measures reduce the likelihood that embers—often carried long distances by wind—will ignite structures. “Rolling up our sleeves and taking even basic measures can help protect our homes,” Upthegrove said.
See Fire page A8