EPA RELEASES PORTLAND HARBOR SUPER-FUND SITE PROPOSED PLAN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD

On June the Environmental Protection Agency released its proposed plan for the Portland Harbor Superfund site. The public may submit comments on the plan through September 6. 

The proposed plan includes dredging or capping 291 acres of contaminated sediments and 19472 feet of contaminated river bank followed by 23 years of monitored natural recovery. The preferred alternative also includes dredged sediment placement in an on-site confined disposal facility and upland landfills. The cost of the proposed plan is $746 million and estimated to take seven years of construction on the river.

The plan also includes other alternatives that the EPA considered and the criteria used to compare the alternatives.

The Port of Portland has concerns with the proposed plan and feasibility study which it said “do not resolve the significant concerns we have been raising for years with EPA’s approach.” With the project cost being the largest concern of the port it is “seeking a change in EPA’s approach that will enable the use of equally protective more cost-effective solution to move forward with cleanup.”

To email comment by September 6 send them to harborcomments@epa.gov or to enter comments online visit https://www.epa.gov/or/forms/comment-epas-proposed-cleanup-plan-portland-harbor-superfund-site.