Superfund Sites Across the Nation

This area was traditionally inhabited by the Multnomah, Wasco, Cowlitz, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Bands of Chinook, Tualatin Kalapuya, Molalla, and many other Tribes who relied on the diverse array of fish, birds, and aquatic species that lived there. Unfortunately, after about 100 years of industrial activity, this landscape has drastically  changed . In the 19th century fishing, mining, agriculture, timber, and metal industries took off which resulted in the loss of crucial floodplains and the addition of harmful pollution into the river. Ship construction, chemical manufacturing and storage, electrical production and distribution, and steel mills also took over the banks of the Willamette. Another major disruption in this area was the construction of the Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub, comprising 10 fuel storage terminals and hundreds of storage tanks that collectively hold 360 million gallons of fuel and  petrochemicals . Not only did the industrialization of this area displace the species that lived there it also relocated tribe members and countless other individuals, starting a legacy of environmental justice concerns.

Most of the pollutants in the Lower Willamette were deposited by industrial activity or through nonpoint sources such as  stormwater runoff  that carries chemicals from homes, lawns, and roads into the river. Over time, these pollutants settle into the sediments at the bottom of the river and are consumed by fish and shellfish which can harm humans who go on to eat those species. Communities along the Willamette also rely on the river for physical and mental well-being, transportation, water, and other ecosystem services such as improved air quality which is impacted by the hazardous substances and industrial activities degrading the river.

“Ecosystem services  (ES) , are the benefits that humans receive from nature. These benefits underpin almost every aspect of human well-being, including our food and water, security, health, and economy. Many of the decisions we make, from how to develop community infrastructure, to managing the land surrounding our communities, impact the provision of ES.” 

Main contaminants of concern include:

The Willamette River is also home to a diverse range of species such as Chinook and Coho salmon, White Sturgeon, Great blue heron, Cliff swallow, Pacific tree frog, Pacific lamprey, Belted kingfisher, steelhead, and River Otters. 

 Fish advisories , such as the  one below , have been posted in affected communities with special attention paid to the demographics of that area with signs and EPA notifications published in Spanish as well as Vietnamese.

Key communities in the cleanup include migrant workers, tribe members, new mothers, the houseless community, and Eastern European, Chinese, Korean, Iraqi, Somali, and Vietnamese residents. The EPAs  Community Plan  contains more detailed information on the unique concerns of each group. They also used an EJSCREEN to further assess how these various groups have been impacted by the superfund site and how cleanup might further impact them. They found “of those affected by the cleanup process, roughly 21-28% of the population living within one mile of the Site were part of overburdened communities, and roughly 36-47% lived below the poverty line, compared to 14.2% in Multnomah County and 13.4% in Oregon”. The EPA also identified many public schools such as Sitton, James, Johns, Boise, Elliott, Roosevelt, and Astor, that are located near the superfund site and can be the focal point of important community outreach events to inform families about the cleanup plan. 

Beyond community members the EPA has identified a diverse range of stakeholders, as captured in the graphic to the right. 

Another issue earlier in the planning process was the spread of conflicting information. This arose from two different reports that found contradicting results on the economic impact of the cleanup as well as a few other instances which have been addressed. Following these events, the  Portland Harbor Sustainability Project  was started to clarify the  economic impact  as well as demonstrate how the 3 pillars of sustainability (environmental quality, social justice,and economic viability) can be incorporated in the cleanup process. 

Community members have also requested greater access to information from the EPA which could be further addressed by the creation of a roundtable discussion. Other superfund sites have had success with this format which brings together community members, government officials, EPA representatives, and PRPs. Although this option hasn’t been implemented at this site, there are many different community groups that have played an influential role in connecting stakeholders. These groups include the  Portland Harbor Community Advisory Group ,  Portland Harbor Community Coalition ,  Willamette Riverkeeper ,  Portland Audubon ,  Portland Harbor Collaborative Group   Willamette River Advocacy Group , and various Neighborhood Associations. 

It is estimated that the cleanup will cost between $642 million to almost $2.2 billion and may require up to 13 years of construction.  “The remedial  technologies potentially applicable to the Site include a combination of dredging, isolation capping, enhanced natural recovery, monitored natural recovery, in situ treatment with activated carbon, off-site dredged material disposal in Subtitle C and D landfills, and off-site thermal treatment for sediment that exceeds acceptable landfill criteria”.