HANSVILLE — The state could begin scooping contaminated soil out of the Hansville General Store property as early as June, if federal stimulus money is secured.

The $1.1 million Department of Ecology project would remove dirt and groundwater contaminated by diesel fuel from a former service station on the site.

Ecology will begin accepting public comments on its plan Feb. 9, in anticipation of receiving federal money this spring through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Spokesman Larry Altose said the department should be able to complete the work without closing Twin Spits Road or the General Store. Crews will have to replace portions of a water main in the area and will repave some of Twin Spits Road. Construction is expected to last through September.

Crews will remove some of the contaminated soil, then encourage bacteria growth underground to help destroy the remaining chemicals. Venting would be added to crawl spaces in the store to prevent harmful fuel vapors from seeping inside. Crews will not dig beneath the store itself.

A fuel station operated on the general store property from 1934 until 1988. Ecology signed an agreement with Hansville General Store owners in 1991 to clean up the site after studies on a neighboring property showed gasoline and diesel contamination. Two fuel tanks were pulled from the General Store property in 1994.

More information can be found at the Department of Ecology project page or the Little Boston Library, 31980 Little Boston Rd.

Comments can be e-mailed to mada461@ecy.wa.gov or mailed to Washington Department of Ecology, 3190 160th Ave. S.E., Bellevue WA 98008.