The Portland Harbor Superfund Site spans a 10-mile stretch of the Willamette River that runs from approximately the Broadway Bridge to Sauvie Island (river miles 1.9 – 11.8). It is one of the largest federal Superfund Sites in the United States.
The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency listed the site on its national priorities list in 2000 after the area had been impacted by nearly 150 years of industrial activity. The EPA has since identified the Portland Harbor Superfund Site as a priority for immediate attention.
In 2017, the EPA issued a Record of Decision requiring approximately 400 acres of sediment (mud) and more than 23,000 feet of riverbank to be remediated. The EPA estimates the cleanup will take approximately 13 years to complete.
Cleaning Up the Portland Harbor Superfund Site
The Department of State Lands is working closely with our federal, state, and local government partners, as well as community groups, stakeholders, and other members of the public to share information and collaborate on cleanup of the Portland Harbor Superfund Site.
The Department’s role includes providing oversight for activities that seek to remediate impacts of past activities in the Portland Harbor and require permits or authorizations. For example, DSL processes
applications to conduct sediment sampling.
Current Activities
Work is currently in progess to clean up the Willamette Cove, located between North John Avenue and the Burlington Railroad Bridge in Portland. From the 1900s to 1970s the cove was used extensively for heavy industrial activity, including a lumber mill; barrel construction; and ship building, repair, and dismantling.
The cove was closed the summers of 2021 and 2022 to allow for water, soil, and sediment sample collection. Sampling is helping DSL, the City of Portland, and the Port of Portland determine how the EPA’s approved in-water cleanup plan for the cove will be implemented. The Department is also studying river water fluctuation and water saturation of soils and bedrock to determine best strategies for future cleanups.
Permits and Authorizations for Remedial and Restoration Work
Projects that seek to remediate or restore contaminated sites in the Portland Harbor following an order issued by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency require a
Division 145 authorization.
Authorization type and associated fees depend on the type of project.
Learn more and apply.