Willamette River Cleanup
It’s Your River. It’s Your Voice. It’s Your Choice.
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About the Portland Harbor Cleanup Site
The Portland Harbor Site spans 10 miles of the Lower Willamette River. The river sediments, surface water, and the fish that reside in the harbor have high levels of PCBs, PAHs, dioxins/furans, DDT and other pesticides which present an unacceptable risk to people’s health, especially subsistence and tribal fishers, and to the environment.
Under EPA cleanup plan, contaminated sediments at the site will be addressed through dredging, capping, enhanced natural recovery, and monitored natural recovery. Approximately 394 acres of sediment, out of 2,190 total acres in the site, will be actively remediated with dredging and capping, including removal of over three million cubic yards of contaminated sediments. Approximately 1,774 acres of the site with lower contaminant levels are expected to recover naturally over time.
Active cleanup construction work is expected to take about 13 years and cost $1 billion. Following the active cleanup construction phase, EPA expects a 100-fold reduction in contamination-related cancer and other serious risks. The river’s natural recovery process will further reduce these risks.
Jan 31 Fish Consumption Workshop
Beth Appert, Multnomah County Fish Advisory Coorinator, is holding a Fish Consumption Workshop to help individuals who fish catch fish in the lower Willamette River to know what is, and what is not, safe to consume. It is an evening discussion with dinner. ADDRESS:...
Group empowering community members to help shape future of contaminated Willamette Cove property
When Wilma Alcock was young, she fished all the time on the Willamette River, eating the bluegills, perch and crappie she and her family caught. Read the write-up about the Portland Harbor Community Coalition at Metro's website. “It got to the point where we couldn’t...
Understand Oregon Health Authority’s Expanded Health Advisory For Lower Willamette River
As expected, the Oregon Health Authority updated the Health Advisory for the Lower Willamette River by lowering advised safe levels on resident fish consumption and expanding the area included in the advisory. Read more here:...
Congratulations to WRAG on being awarded the EPA TAG Grant!
We want to congratulate the Willamette River Advocacy Group (WRAG) who was officially awarded the EPA’s Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) for Portland Region 10 Superfund cleanup. The grant allows the group funding to hire a Technical Advisor who can represent the...
Comments for Proposed Explanation of Significant Differences due by December 21
Retain the Record of Decision for the Portland Harbor Superfund Cleanup The Portland Harbor Community Advisory Group, Portland Harbor Community Coalition, North Willamette Watershed Council, Portland Audubon, Willamette Riverkeeper seek to retain the Record of...