Calbag Metals
EVRAZ Portland
Gunderson LLC
NW Natural
Oregon Department of State Lands
Port of Portland
Portland General Electric
Schnitzer Steel
Vigor Industrial
Working in Cooperation with
Portland State University and
Oregon State University
1998 2000–11
EPA:
River
Assess Study and Early Cleanup
DEQ:
Land
Source Control
What has been done?
Study: over 6,000 samples of sediment, surface water, fish tissue, storm
water, and groundwater. Also includes two risk assessments. Over $90
Million spent on the study and reports
Early In-River Cleanups: NW Natural, Port of Portland
DEQ Source Control: cleanup projects on the land next to the river.
What are the pollution issues
in the Harbor?
– PCBs
– DDT (pesticides)
– PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons)
– Dioxin/Furans
Two of these chemicals — PCBs and DDT — are banned today.
Other chemicals (e.g. metals) are present in localized areas.
Sources – industrial, federal wartime shipbuilding and scrapping,
shipping, CSOs, stormwater
Primarily legacy contamination – 100 years and over 100 parties
1913 – St. Johns Area
1947 – Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation
U.S. Shipyard
What are the impacts
to wildlife and fish?
– Worms and bugs in the mud are exposed to
chemicals in the river bottom (sediments)
• Localized: Approximately 7% of the ten
mile site is potentially toxic to bugs
• Result is less food for fish
– Fish accumulate chemicals through food
chain
– Birds and mammals that feed on fish and
bugs may be exposed to PCBs, pesticides,
and metals
• Exposures could potentially cause
reduced reproductive success
What are the human health risks?
1998 2000–11 2011–12 2013–15 2016 ??
EPA:
River
Assess Study and Early Cleanup Evaluate
Options
Proposed
Plan
Cleanup
Decision
Implement Cleanup
DEQ:
Land
Source Control
Formal Public Input
(60 days)
What’s Next?
Cleanup Methods
– Dredging
– Capping
– Monitored Natural Recovery
– Options will be a combination
of methods.
– Finding the right combination
considers protection of human
health and the environment,
time for recovery, how it impacts
the community, and costs.
Who pays for the cleanup?
– Superfund Tax expired in 1995; Fund receives annual
appropriation from Congress
– Remaining PRPs at Portland Harbor
• City of Portland
• Public Utilities
• Port of Portland
• State of Oregon
• Private Businesses
– over one hundred identified
– Large and small, local and national
– Federal Government will hopefully pay its fair share for the
federal wartime activities
17,500 direct, induced and indirect jobs
– $1.42 billion in wages, salaries and
consumption impacts
– Average wage of $50,700/person
– Higher than average household income
of $48,500
1998 2000–11 2011–12 2013–15 2016 ??
EPA:
River
Assess Study and Early Cleanup Evaluate
Options
Proposed
Plan
Cleanup
Decision
Implement Cleanup
DEQ:
Land
Source Control
Community
Engagement
Formal Public Input
(60 days)
The goal of the Partnership is to infuse community priorities
and values into the cleanup plan. What is the future of our river?
Upcoming Events
May 30 On the Waterfront: A River Runs Through Us 7:00 to 8:30 pm, McMenamins Kennedy School Speakers: Portland State University
June 14 On the Waterfront: Cleaning Up the Mud 7:00 to 8:30 pm, Mercy Corps Building Speakers: Todd Bridges and Paul Schroeder, Army Corps Environmental Research & Development Center
* Full Feasibility Study report can be found at www.lwgportlandharbor.org
