Work to clean up underground solvent pollution in downtown Whitefish is expected to be completed this week.

A Montana Department of Environmental Quality investigation in 2012 revealed tetrachloroethene (PCE) located beneath several buildings downtown. PCE is a solvent often associated with dry cleaning and may affect indoor air quality. The solvent was found at elevated levels at the former Martin’s Cleaners building at 239 Baker Ave., which is now the Whitefish Liquor Store, and the former Anderson Cleaners Building at 306 East Second St., which is now Second Street Pizza.

In May, Trihydro Corporation, a contractor for DEQ, probed below the asphalt around those locations in an effort to estimate the extent of the plume.

The DEQ began work last week to install a soil vapor extraction system at Whitefish Liquor Store site. Contaminated soils were also removed.

“The investigation showed there was higher concentration released at that location and the best approach would be to treat and release the vapors right at the site,” said Michael Gipson with the DEQ.

The soil vapor extraction system was installed in the sidewalk rights-of-way and in the parking area east of the building. Once the system is installed, the pipes will be connected to a high vacuum pressure which will remove contamination from the soil. The contaminated air will be cleaned as it passes through a series of carbon filters, and then released to the outside air.

The state Legislature in 2015 provided limited funding to DEQ to perform such cleanups at a variety of sites. The funding came from the orphan share account, which is designed for remedial actions to address risks to human health or the environment at sites where there is no readily apparent financially viable liable person. The funding is being provided to DEQ on a one-time basis.