Port of Portland Disposing of Contaminated Dredge Material on West Hayden Island
For Immediate Release:
August 4, 2010
CONTACT: Bob Sallinger, Audubon Society of Portland 503-380-9728
Travis Williams, Willamette Riverkeeper - 503-890-1683
Audubon Society of Portland and Willamette Riverkeeper are calling on the Port of Portland to immediately cease disposal of contaminated dredge materials from the Portland Harbor Superfund Site on West Hayden Island. The Port is currently in the process of disposing of 30,000 cubic yards of dredge materials containing lead, zinc and pesticides from the Willamette River at Terminal 5 and has requested permission from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to add an additional 75,000 cubic yards of dredge material containing DDT, PAHs and petroleum hydrocarbons from the Willamette River at Post Office Bar (river mile 2.2). (see footnote)
West Hayden Island has been at the center of significant controversy recently as the Port has sought to have the City of Portland annex and rezone the parcel to allow for marine industrial development over the strong objections of neighbors, conservation groups and community groups concerned about ecological and community impacts. Last week the Portland City Council voted to consider allowing development on up to 300 out of the islands 826 acres but strongly assured the public that no decision would be made until further study of community concerns was completed. Contrary to these assurances, "beneficial use" letters from Oregon Department of Environmental Quality authorizing contaminated dredge material disposal actions on West Hayden Island were specifically based on the Port's intent to develop this site for marine industrial purposes.
"The City and the Port have repeatedly assured the public that any potential development on West Hayden Island would protect the community and the environment" said Audubon Conservation Director Bob Sallinger. "The deliberate contamination of this critical wildlife area to further the Port's development aspirations completely validates the public's opposition to this project." While placement of the contaminated materials on this site is consistent with commercial or industrial use which would cap the dredge materials and preclude their escape back into the environment, it may preclude restoration opportunities should development not be approved. It is completely unacceptable that the Port would justify placing contaminated fill at this site on the basis of future development which has not yet been approved and which is currently under review by the City of Portland.
"It is ironic that this amazing natural area which could have been used to mitigate for damages to the environment caused by contamination at the Willamette River Superfund Site has now been deliberately contaminated with dredge material from the Superfund Site" said Willamette Riverkeeper Executive Director Travis Williams. "It is time for the City and the Port to recognize that the West Hayden Island floodplain is the wrong place to dispose of contaminated materials and it is the wrong place for industrial development."
Portland Audubon, Riverkeeper and a large coalition of conservation and community groups support permanently protecting all of West Hayden Island for wildlife habitat and nature-based recreation.
1 The dredge materials contain relatively low levels of contaminants compared to other areas of the Portland Harbor Superfund Site. The T-5 materials are contaminated with lead, zinc and pesticides. The Post Office Bar materials contain DDT, PAHs and Petroleum Hydrocarbons. Both sides are located within the Superfund area in Portland Harbor. While the contaminant levels are relatively low, it is accurate to say that the material is contaminated and that it will require special treatment and does present a threat to fish, wildlife and humans under certain types of land use scenarios..
• T-5 Dredge Materials:
• Zinc--exceeds levels acceptable for non threatened or endangered species
• Lead--exceeds levels acceptable for endangered birds
• DDT, DDE--Present but below screening levels
• Post Office Bar Dredge Materials:
• DDT--exceed bioaccumulation sediment screening levels
• PAHs--Above human health residential based screening levels
• Petroleum Hydrocarbons---Above 100 mg/ kg screening level
2 DEQ Public Notice (pdf)
