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.
Trustee Council Announces Publication of Draft Portland Harbor Supplemental Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment
The Trustee Council has developed a Draft Supplemental Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment to evaluate and select one of three alternatives to implement restoration actions. The Draft Supplemental Restoration Plan also evaluates potential environmental impacts from the alternatives under the National Environmental Policy Act.
OPB: Oregon DEQ To Begin Downtown Portland River Cleanup
The DEQ and NW Natural will remove about 5,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment and tar-like material at the former Portland Gas Manufacturing site. The cleanup is part of the Willamette River Downtown Reach project. It is the last significant legacy contamination from gas manufacturing operations from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s.
Follow-Up from the virtual June 10th Portland Harbor Public Forum.
From US EPA: Thank you to everyone who attended the June 10th quarterly EPA Portland Harbor Public Forum (with DEQ and CAG support). A webinar recording and other materials from this event are now available both on EPA’s Portland Harbor website in the ‘Public...
State Seeks Comment on Temporary Closure of Willamette Cove
The Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL) is currently accepting public comments on a proposal to close Willamette Cove to boating and other river uses from mid-August through October 2020 to allow sediment and water samples to be collected. Please read below for...
Help make Portland Harbor information accessible and protect the cleanup!
Join the Portland Harbor Community Advisory Group, the City of Portland, and the Oregon Department of State Lands online July 8 at 6:30pm for a virtual workshop and share how YOU would like to learn about the river cleanup. RSVP to reserve your spot.
Portland, Port Join Settlement With Monsanto Over PCBs Contamination
Reported on OBP 6/24/2020 by Monica Samayoa: The City of Portland joins over 2,500 other government entities in reaching a proposed nationwide multi-million-dollar class settlement Wednesday with the agricultural chemical giant Monsanto. The Port of Portland and the...
Feuds Among EPA, Companies Delay Cleanup of Contaminated Harbor
Reported by Sylvia Carignan on bloomberglaw.com: A tug of war over one of the country’s most toxic sites is pitting the EPA against a handful of companies paying for cleanup. The companies have sought to reduce the scale and cost of the cleanup at Portland Harbor, a...
CAG General Meeting May 13, 2020
CAG Board Members Michael Pouncil, ChairDoug LarsonSarah Taylor Presenters and Panelists DEQLauren Wirtis, HostErin McDonnellDan HafleyMike PoulsenRebecca Wells-AlbersLaura Knudsen, EPAKaty Weil, MetroDwight Leisle, Port of Portland Estimated Number of Participants:...
EPA Provides Grant Funding to Support Environmental Justice Communities Impacted by COVID-19
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working to improve the environment and public health conditions of low-income and minority communities through our daily efforts to ensure all Americans have clean air, safe water, and access to information to make...
March 11 Meeting Summary & Materials
Please review the final meeting summary from the March 11th, 2020 EPA Public Forum (with support from DEQ and the CAG). All presentations and related materials from the March 11th Public Forum are now available on EPA’s Portland Harbor website (in the ‘Public...
DEQ Requests Comments on Proposed Portland Harbor Source Control Decision for City of Portland Outfalls Project
*Comment by 5/29/2020* DEQ Requests Comments on Proposed Portland Harbor Source Control Decision for City of Portland Outfalls Project: DEQ proposes to issue a source control decision that finds the city adequately investigated the sources of potential stormwater...
EPA’s Response to the Post-ROD Comment Letter from PRPs
EPA has responded to the post-ROD comment letter received on March 9, 2020 from four Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs) for the Portland Harbor Superfund Site (including Evraz Inc., Gunderson LLC, Schnitzer Steel Industries, and Vigor Industrial). EPA’s response...