Submitted by Thurston County Public Health and Social Services
Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) continues to address a long-standing hazardous waste issue at 17909 Lawrence Lake Rd. SE in Yelm, Washington. As of September 15, 2025, an exceptionally large pile of debris was confirmed at the property with the presence of hazardous asbestos-containing wastes.
While this has been an ongoing situation for several years, theincrease in public events hosted at this property and recent confirmation of asbestos, with a lack of remedial action by the property owner, has elevated the risk to warrant a public health and safety response. Warning signs were posted by PHSS staff on October 10and again on October 15, 2025, to inform the public of the health risk; however, the signs were removed by the property owner.
The County urges the public and individuals visiting the property, also known as Deschutes Valley Farms, to be aware of the situation and take appropriate precautions to protect themselves from the hazards present at the property. Asbestos is a dangerous substance and should be avoided. There is no safe level of asbestos exposure. Breathing in these fibers can lead to serious diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.
“The state and federal Clean Air Acts empower ORCAA to enforce regulations regarding asbestos in our jurisdiction. We appreciate the opportunity to work with Thurston County and the state’s Department of Ecology to protect public health,” said Jeff Johnston, Executive Director of Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA).
County PHSS staff are actively working with the County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and other agencies to enforce compliance with environmental and public health regulations and to address the numerous hazards and violations at the property. In July 2025, the Washington State Department of Ecology fined the property owners $204,000 for damaging the Deschutes River shoreline. At this time, PHSS has ordered the property owner to close the property to the public and cancel future public events until the hazardous wastes are properly managed and disposed of.
