Willamette River Cleanup
It’s Your River. It’s Your Voice. It’s Your Choice.
Contribute to support the work of the Portland Harbor Community Advisory Group.
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.
Apply by Friday, May 21st* City of Portland Now Accepting Applications for Portland Harbor Community Grants!
The City’s Portland Harbor Program is now accepting grant applications to support communities’ participation in the Superfund cleanup. BIPOC-led organizations and groups with strong relationships with communities disproportionately impacted by the Portland Harbor site...
Portland Harbor community grants info sessions!
A quick reminder about this week’s Portland Harbor Program community grants opportunity information sessions. Each session will cover grant program goals, eligible activities, selection criteria, and how to apply. There will also be ample time to ask questions. These...
Frog Ferry statement of support from PHCAG
The Frog Ferry is an opportunity to put the sparkle back in Portland's tarnished national image. The Portland Harbor Community Advisory Group hosted a well attended presentation by advocates at their April meeting, now available on YouTube in its entirety. The highly...
CAG General Meeting April 14, 2021
We have a “New” Portland Harbor CAG YouTube page. “Subscribe here” and at the bottom of the email. Now you have access to our monthly virtual meetings, forums, and presentations. CAG Board Members Michael Pouncil, Chair Doug Larson Sarah Taylor Scott Burr, Tech...
State Suggests Burying Willamette Cove’s Toxic Soil Along Beach
Environmental advocates and North Portlanders are livid at a decision by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to clean up a contaminated beach on the Willamette River by burying most of the hazardous waste onsite.
March 8 Issue of Willamette River Insider
Initial sampling work at the Cathedral Park Project Area.. City of Portland to Devote Portion of $550 Million PCB Contamination Settlement to Environmental Equity Portland Harbor CAG’s Jan/Feb. Meetings Presentation Synopsis Pollinators and Local Industry House Bill...
Final Portland Harbor Supplemental Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment
Today the Trustee Council published a Final Supplemental Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment (SRP). Of the alternatives evaluated in the SRP, the Trustee Council has selected the Restoration Bank Credit Alternative for this phase of restoration. View and...
*RSVP Now!* March 10th Virtual Portland Harbor Collaborative Meeting
From US EPA: Everyone is welcome to join the first quarterly Portland Harbor Collaborative meeting! Please read below for information about how to submit an RSVP for this event (required), a final agenda, and more! Date: Next Wednesday, March 10th Time: 5:00pm –...
From US EPA: EPA is convening a Cathedral Park Project Area Working Group for EPA’s initial sampling work. Please read below for more information! Working Group Purpose: Discuss community education and engagement opportunities for EPA’s initial sampling work at the...
EPA reaches major cleanup agreement for the Portland Harbor Superfund Site, 100 percent of site now in active engineering design phase
Settlement with businesses, federal, state, and local agencies for remedial design of the Swan Island Basin area brings the last and largest area into active cleanup work
Appreciation and Gratitude from the Portland Harbor Community Coalition (and updates)
Updates from Our River | February 8, 2021 We recognize and deeply appreciate your support in PHCC's collective victories in 2020. We'd like to especially extend gratitude to those who submitted comments on various issues, shared our messages via email or social media...
Willamette River Insider
Read the December 15, 2020 Issue of Willamette River Insider right here.