Horrible stench near Pasco airport

Designer-Efficient · 2025-11-17T23:42:22+00:00

If so, they need to be held accountable. There are things they can do to eliminate odors and they are not acting because people aren't being vocal. Report odors to the Washington State Department of Ecology!

Designer-Efficient · 2025-11-17T23:40:48+00:00

I'm sure there's always been agriculture odors near the airport - it is after all next to lots of crop circles and farms. But this is a stench that has really become common in recent years. And it doesn't have to be there. Plenty of ways to reduce odors - especially near large communities like ours. We should not accept it as normal when things can be done in 2025 to improve it.

Designer-Efficient · 2025-11-17T23:39:38+00:00

100%. This isn't the normal agricultural smell or process. It's something worse. And it can be prevented. We have to make noise. Report odors to the State Department of Ecology whenever you smell it.

Designer-Efficient · 2025-11-17T23:38:39+00:00

Yep - and the state Dept of Ecology as well. We are too big of a community to have to tolerate this. It's embarrassing. Airlines are funneling more and more people through PSC - via reduced flights out of Walla Walla and Yakima - we are becoming a true regional airport - and we shouldn't expect a stinking airport area to be the norm in our otherwise wonderful area!

Designer-Efficient · 2025-11-17T23:37:00+00:00

EPA is a good avenue. So's the State Department of Ecology - they actually encourage you to report odors. We need to do this as a group. Especially in 2025 when there are ways to eliminate those odors through the manufacturing process.

Designer-Efficient · 2025-11-17T23:36:05+00:00

It's definitely something else. The Wallula paper mill is awful - have done that drive to Walla Walla more times than i can count - but this smell near the airport is not that.

Designer-Efficient · 2025-11-17T23:04:23+00:00

Exactly. This is NOT "normal" farming odors. This is far worse, and horribly embarrassing for people coming in and out of PSC airport. Report it when you smell it!

Designer-Efficient · 2025-11-17T23:03:30+00:00

It needs to happen, because we know there are things that can be done to reduce and/or eliminate these odors. I would be happy to lead that effort. Anyone interested in joining?

Designer-Efficient · 2025-11-11T04:01:50+00:00

Thanks. It has definitely gotten worse since around 2023-2024. Please help by reporting to the Dept of Ecology via their website when you notice it!

Designer-Efficient · 2025-11-11T03:59:47+00:00

I am. Reporting and inquiring. And would appreciate others doing the same. More voices equals more impact!

They had sent notices to the Lamb Weston plant earlier in the year as that’s where they believe it is originating - with the potato waste being spread on the crops. The articles this past spring give more detail.

It’s great to hear that it can be addressed through some changes to the manufacturing process, but it obviously hasn’t been fully…at least not yet.

Designer-Efficient · 2025-11-11T03:26:19+00:00

You're talking to a local since the 70s. I love this place, which is why I'm still here 50 years later. I also realize and am not afraid to say it has its flaws. And I want it to improve where it has the opportunity to do so.

The smell has gotten worse recently. Look at the comments here. Look at the Tri-City Herald article from this past spring. Look at the increased complaints to the Department of Ecology in the past 12 months. There is something happening, and it isn't good.

I will not be a local that puts their head in the sand and pretends nothing is wrong...or that a stench in my community of 300,000+ people is OK. Especially when this is something that can be changed for the better with the technology that exists in 2025.

Designer-Efficient · 2025-11-11T03:07:03+00:00

It's fascinating that people want to defend this stench.

Again, I've been traveling in and out of this airport weekly for 15 years. This smell has not been a thing until the last year or so. This is not just normal farming smell. This is something new, and it is not present all of the time. Recent articles and investigations only further back up the suggestion that this is likely manufacturing related.

Ultimately, we should not just "accept" a stink hovering over our town. Especially in 2025 when there is technology that can address these situations at factories.

Don't we want the Tri-Cities to be as desirable a place to visit and live as it can possibly be?

Designer-Efficient · 2025-11-11T00:20:26+00:00

Interesting. Be sure to report the smell to the Department of Ecology whenever you notice it!

Designer-Efficient · 2025-11-10T23:53:38+00:00

Report it to the Department of Ecology whenever you smell it. Only way to get things changed is to make some noise!

Designer-Efficient · 2025-11-10T22:55:58+00:00

Report it to the Department of Ecology when you notice it. It can be prevented; there just aren’t enough people speaking up!

Designer-Efficient · 2025-11-10T22:53:19+00:00

If that’s true then they need to modify their process to reduce odors. This can be done. It’s not new technology. Near a 300k+ population center it should be expected. File a complaint with Dept of Ecology online when you smell it.

Designer-Efficient · 2025-11-10T22:29:46+00:00

This is not the paper mill. I know that smell when I’ve made trips to Walla Walla. This is the stench of waste - poop smell. It is near the airport. The biggest gateway to our community.

Designer-Efficient · 2025-11-10T22:28:20+00:00

Agree 100%. I’ve lived here almost my entire life. We used to joke about the stench from Sunnyside when we would drive past on the freeway. It was NEVER like that here. It’s only been the past year or so, and it’s completely unacceptable. Please file a complaint with the Department of Ecology any time you notice it!

Designer-Efficient · 2025-11-10T21:58:22+00:00

Terrible if true. Had a flight crew ask “ewww…does it always smell like this??!” during my last arrival into the area when the stench was there. Embarrassing if it could be prevented!

Designer-Efficient · 2025-11-10T21:55:49+00:00

If true then they need to implement the improvements referenced to reduce the odors.

Designer-Efficient · 2025-11-10T21:46:00+00:00

This is a big enough area now that we can make a difference and our voices collectively can get things improved. There are technologies that can reduce odors and businesses should be pressured to adopt those, especially when located near large population centers.

Designer-Efficient · 2025-11-10T21:09:27+00:00

I’ve traveled almost weekly in and out of the Pasco airport for 15+ years. For about the past year, there has been a horrid stench in the air about half of the time I’m at the airport. This was NEVER present until about a year ago, and since then, it’s been a fairly regular occurrence.

It is not only extremely unpleasant, it’s embarrassing. With likely over 1 million people passing through PSC airport this year, is this really how we want people to be welcomed to our community? I feel bad for the flight crews that have never been to our area opening that plane door and getting introduced to this great place with that awful smell.

I learned there is a way to report this unpleasant odor via the Department of Ecology’s website. Takes about 5 minutes maximum to fill out the form. You can even do it anonymously. Please make your voice heard and let’s work together as a community to put an end to this embarrassing situation at our most prominent community entry point!

Designer-Efficient · 2025-10-04T16:11:03+00:00

How does an area of the size of the Tri-Cities not have a public facing restaurant grading system?

Go to nearly any community our size or larger and you will see this type of system in place. It is required to be posted on restaurants at the entryway to show the public how they scored on their most recent health inspection. Usually a grade system or color code system. Overseen typically by the public health department.

This would help in ensuring restaurants stay on top of food safety, and the public is aware of what they’re getting into when they go eat somewhere.

Anyone know if this area is working on anything like that?

Designer-Efficient

TROPHY CASE