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EPA is now accepting comments on the Proposed Plan for the Portland Harbor Superfund Site for 90 days (June 9 through September 6, 2016)
Tell the EPA What You Think!
This site is an easy way for people to comment so that it reaches both EPA’s Director Gina McCarthy and key Oregon legislators. We want to generate as many public comments before August 8th as possible. We really hope you’ll join us at the upcoming events and that you will share the website.
September 2
Video: Our Willamette River (Portland Harbor Superfund) – Call to Action
July 21
- Video of EPA’s Presentation of the Portland Harbor Superfund Site Proposed Plan (YouTube video, 26 minutes, 32 seconds)
- Slides from EPA’s Presentation of the Portland Harbor Superfund Site Proposed Plan (PDF) (24 pp, 3.5MB)
Public Meeting Schedule:
- June 24, 11:30am-8pm, City of Portland Building, 1120 SW 5th Ave, Portland, OR 97205
- June 29, 11:30am-8pm, Portland Metropolitan Exposition Center (EXPO Center), 2060 N Marine Dr, Portland, OR 97217
- July 11, 11:30am-8pm, University Place Conference Center, 310 SW Lincoln St, Portland, OR 97201
- July 20, 11:30am-8pm, Ambridge Center, 1333 NE Martin Luther King Blvd, Portland, OR 97232
EPA will offer two presentations during each public meeting from 12noon-12:30pm, and 6pm-6:30pm.
All locations are easily accessible via MAX trains and bus lines.
Public Meeting Agenda:
- Agenda (English)(PDF) (1 pg, 465K); En Espanol (PDF) (1 pg, 465K); In Russian (PDF) (1 pg, 470K); In Chinese (PDF) (1 pg, 480K); In Vietnamese (PDF) (1 pg, 354K)
Language Interpretation:
Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese and Chinese language interpretation will be available during the June 24th meeting. To request language interpretation at any of the other EPA public meetings, please contact Laura Knudsen ([email protected]), 503-326-3280 at least two weeks in advance of the public meeting.
June 25
3 problems the Port of Portland has with the EPA’s $800M Superfund plan:
- The plan does not adequately inform Portlanders about the true costs and benefits of different cleanup options. Port leaders aren’t sure why the projected price tag dropped from an estimated $1.4 billion to about $800 million. “Costs dropped, but there was little actual change in the plan for cleanup,” Robinhold said. EPA’s costs might be overly optimistic, meaning the public is not informed about the true higher anticipated cost of the cleanup or the benefits that different cleanup alternatives would achieve. The affordability issue was not described.
- Next, the Port isn’t sure whether the cleanup goals are realistic. “EPA sets its cleanup targets for the entire site, rather than recognizing that the risks aren’t the same across all 10 miles,” Robinhold said, noting that the waterway is also used for fishing and recreation. “Cleanup goals should be more site-specific, so we ensure they are actually effective and achievable in an urban waterway.”
- Finally, the Port questions whether stakeholders will have enough wherewithal to make the cleanup job work.
June 17
Media Training & Portland Harbor Forum, 6-9pm, Tuesday June 21 Pyramid Communications is hosting a free training to the Coalition on effective media strategies. They have won dozens of successful campaigns partnering with tribes and others to stop major environmental disasters such as the prevention of the coal terminal in Lummi Nation territory. This free session will help all of us create and spread effective messages on social media, in the press, and during interviews. Also, hear from community and technical experts on how to respond to the EPA on their terrible plan for the Portland Harbor starting at 7pm. Dinner Provided.
Where: Harriet Tubman Middle School, 2231 N Flint Ave, Portland, OR 97227
Press Conference–REFRAME the MEDIA on OUR STORY, 11:30am, Friday June 24 The largest media coverage will be at the first EPA public comment session on the Portland Harbor proposed cleanup plan. PHCC members should be greeting the media, before the comment session opens. The visual impact of us standing together is critical for the media to take notice.
Where: Portland Building, 1120 SW 5th Ave, Portland, OR 97204; front of building
June 9th
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Public Comment Period: June 9 to August 8, 2016
EPA will accept written comments on the Proposed Plan during the public comment period. Written comments should be addressed to:
Attn: Harbor Comments U.S. EPA, 805 SW Broadway, Suite 500 Portland, OR 97205
Attend one of the official EPA public meetings in Portland, OR to provide oral or written comments, and to hear an EPA presentation (interpretation is available – [email protected]) on the proposed plan:
June 24, 2016, 11:30am-8pm, City of Portland Building, 1120 SW 5th Ave.
June 29, 2016, 11:30am-8pm, EXPO Center, 2060 N Marine Dr.
July 11, 2016, 11:30am-8pm, University Place Conference Center, 310 SW Lincoln St.
July 20, 2016, 11:30am-8pm, Ambridge Center, 1333 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
EPA will offer two presentations on the proposed plan during each public meeting (12noon to 12:30pm and 6pm to 6:30pm). EPA will announce the details of the public meetings by posting them on this website (http://go.usa.gov/3Wf2B), issuing a public notice and placing ads in local newspapers.
Links for electronic communication:
Email: [email protected]
Electronic comment box:
May 31st
Fact Sheets and Key Information to Review
Community Information Card (PDF) (2 pp, 750K) | | In Russian (PDF) (2 pp, 655K) Technology Overview Videos:
◦ Monitored Natural Recovery or MNR (YouTube video, 5 minutes, 11 seconds)
◦ Dredging (YouTube video, 5 minutes, 25 seconds)
◦ Capping (YouTube video, 7 minutes, 47 seconds)
Final Remedial Investigation Report (PDF) (679 pp, 4.5MB) – February 8, 2016
Newspaper Articles:
James Cronin: Get ready for a Portland Harbor cleanup plan – Portland Business Journal
Contact Information
General questions:
- Alanna Conley ([email protected]), Community Involvement Coordinator, 503-326-6831
Technical questions:
- Kristine Koch ([email protected]), Project Manager (Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study), 206-553-6705
- Sean Sheldrake ([email protected]), Project Manager (Early Actions), 206-553-1220
- Anne Christopher ([email protected]), Project Manager, 503-326-6554