McCormick and Baxter Superfund Site

Since 2018, DEQ and EPA laid the groundwork to support future reuse of the property. This has included compiling potential purchaser materials and identifying state and local interests related to the site. Any property transaction will require a Prospective Purchaser Agreement, or PPA, from DEQ.  A PPA is a legally binding agreement between DEQ and a prospective purchaser that limits the purchaser's liability for environmental cleanup of the property. In return for this liability release, the purchaser must provide a substantial public benefit. EPA will separately determine whether it needs to enter into its own agreement with a prospective purchaser.​​

DEQ is committed to meaningful community engagement throughout the evaluation of the PPA application. Our goal is to keep the community informed by providing timely updates, answering questions and listening to feedback for consideration during the review process and discussions with the applicant. If DEQ negotiates a draft PPA with the applicant, it will be shared with the community for a formal public comment period before issuing a decision.

Community Meetings
DEQ will hold a community meeting with Portland Botanical Gardens on Thursday, May 8, 2025 to share updates, answer questions and hear feedback. See the full meeting details at the top of the page.

DEQ held an informational meeting in February 2025 to representatives of community organizations that have previously expressed interest in reuse of the site. DEQ provided a background of the site's history and cleanup, an overview of the PPA process and Portland Botanical Gardens' application and an opportunity to ask questions and share input.

• Presentation slides​
  
• Presentation recording

Community Survey
DEQ invites community members to share their thoughts on future reuse of the site. Community input will be taken into consideration as DEQ continues conversations with Portland Botanical Gardens on its PPA proposal. It will also help improve our community engagement process.

Take and share the survey​

McCormick & Baxter Creosoting Company operated between 1944 and 1991, treating wood products with creosote, pentachlorophenol and inorganic preservatives such as arsenic, copper, chromium and zinc. Process wastewaters were discharged directly to the Willamette River and in upland soils.  Three primary contaminant release areas occurred in the upland portion of the property, including the former waste disposal area, central processing area and tank farm area.  Significant concentrations of wood-treating chemicals were found in soil and groundwater at the site and in river sediments adjacent to the site.

DEQ initiated investigations in 1983 soon after federal and state cleanup laws were initiated in the early 1980s. McCormick & Baxter Creosoting Co. declared bankruptcy in 1991.  

DEQ declared the property as an “Orphan site" in 1992 due to the significant human health and environmental risk posed at the site. Orphan sites are properties contaminated by a release of hazardous substances that pose serious threats to human health or the environment and where the parties responsible for the contamination are unknown, unable or unwilling - to pay for needed cleanup actions.

DEQ then implemented interim removal measures including plant demolition, sludge and soil removals and extraction of creosote from the groundwater.

EPA listed the site on the National Priorities List, also known as Superfund, in June 1994 based on information collected by DEQ. EPA designated DEQ as the lead agency for implementing the cleanup while funding for remedial design and construction was provided by EPA. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, DEQ and EPA conducted preliminary studies and design work, including a feasibility study, Record of Decision and remedial design. The goal for the cleanup was to prevent human and ecological exposure to contamination at the site.​

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The cleanup was completed in 2005 and is comprised of three elements to prevent exposure to contamination:

1. Groundwater Barrier Wall: An 18-acre barrier wall surrounds most of the contaminated groundwater on site, isolating and preventing it from migrating to the Willamette River. The barrier wall is comprised of sheet piles 80 feet underground adjacent to the Willamette River and a bentonite clay slurry wall on the landward side. Creosote removal activities occurred between 1989 and 2011, which recovered approximately 6,200 gallons from groundwater and was disposed offsite.
2. Soil Removal and Soil Cap: 33,000 tons of soil was removed and replaced by two feet of clean soil across the entire site. Areas with highly contaminated surface soils were removed to a depth of four feet. To prevent rainwater from entering the interior of the barrier wall isolating contaminated groundwater, a 16-acre engineered impermeable cap with a stormwater discharge system was placed above the barrier wall footprint. 
3. Sediment Cap: A 23-acre cap was constructed in the Willamette River to isolate contaminated sediments. The cap includes at least two feet of sand, with added organoclay or reactive core mats in certain areas to enhance protection. To protect the cap from erosion, it is covered with an armoring layer made of large rock and articulated concrete blocks. This also included re-grading the riverbank and adding two feet of topsoil to cap the shoreline.

Revegetation of the capped riverbank with native trees and shrubs took place in 2006 after the soil was stabilized with the native grasses.

Some administrative components of the cleanup remedy are still in progress. These include implementing institutional controls — such as recording environmental restrictions in property deeds and other official documents — which typically occur during changes in property ownership. EPA must also formally update the groundwater alternate concentration limits.

Operations and Maintenance

DEQ continues to maintain the site with annual sampling and general property maintenance. Annual reports, project documents and site information are available on Your DEQ Online.

EPA and DEQ perform a “Five-Year Review" every five years to determine whether the cleanup remedy is functioning properly to protect human health and the environment. The most recent Five-Year Review was completed in 2021 and determined that the remedy is functioning as intended. The next Five-Year Review is underway and will be published in 2026. 

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