RETURN TO USE INITIATIVE
2012 Demonstration Project
PORTLAND HARBOR:
Portland, Oregon
THE SITE: The Portland Harbor Superfund site
(the Site) includes a 10-mile stretch of the Willamette
River between river mile 1.9 and 11.8 as well as
upland source properties. This area is collectively
known as the Portland Harbor. For over 150 years,
the Willamette River and surrounding properties have
served as an international port for commerce, and
supported an industrial center with manufacturing,
shipbuilding, petroleum, metal salvaging and power-
generation activities. These industrial uses have
resulted in contamination of surface water, ground
water, soil and sediment at the Site. In 2000, the EPA
placed the Site on the National Priorities List (NPL).
The remedial investigation has found elevated levels
of contaminants, including polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs), heavy metals like mercury, polynuclear
aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), dioxin/furans and
pesticides.
Various potentially responsible parties (PRPs) are
conducting site investigations and cleanup activities
under EPA and Oregon Department of Environmental
Quality (DEQ) oversight. PRPs have begun cleanup
at several early action areas at the Site while other
sitewide investigations are ongoing. One of these early
action areas is the 35-acre Triangle Park. Industrial
activities have contaminated soil and ground water in
the Triangle Park portion of the Site.
THE OPPORTUNITY: Enrollment at the
University of Portland has grown steadily over the past
five years and the University has begun to outgrow its
on-campus housing and facilities. The Triangle Park
portion of the Site is located below the University's
existing campus and along the Willamette River. The
University recognized the value of this 35-acre area
as it would provide an ideal location for an expansion
of the campus. The University has created plans for
PICTURED: An aerial view of the property before construction
on Triangle Park began. (Source: The EPA)
POTENTIAL BARRIERS: The University of Portland was
concerned about potential liability if they purchased the Site and
sought additional confirmation that they would remain a non-liable
party.
SOLUTION: Through a Bona Fide Prospective Purchaser
(BFPP) agreement that provided EPA oversight of the University's
cleanup work, the University of Portland was able to purchase
Triangle Park for redevelopment while remaining a non-liable
party.
PICTURED: An aerial view of the University of Portland River
Campus area. (Source: AMEC Environment and Infrastructure)
BEFORE: Former industrial property with contamination in river
sediments, soil and ground water.
AFTER: Redevelopment of Triangle Park, a 35-acre riverfront
portion of the Site, into the University of Portland's River Campus
began with investigation and cleanup work funded by the
University with EPA oversight.
SEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
February 2013 1

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the new University of Portland River Campus, which will enable the University to offer new academic
buildings, athletic fields, and recreational and open space.
POTENTIAL BARRIERS: The University of Portland wanted to purchase the Triangle Park
portion of the Site and, even though site investigations and cleanup activities continued at other
portions of the Site, the University wanted to begin necessary cleanup and redevelopment soon
to be able to meet their campus space needs. Although the University of Portland is a non-liable
party with protection under Brownfields law, University officials were concerned that they could
lose their liability exemption at the Site. In order to ease concerns, the University sought additional
assurance that it would remain a non-liable party and that Triangle Park property would be safe for
the reuse the University had planned.
THE SOLUTION: In part as a result of a Bona Fide Prospective Purchaser (BFPP) agreement
with the EPA, the University of Portland purchased the 35-acre Triangle Park portion of the Site in
2009. The BFPP Agreement provides the University with additional assurance regarding cleanup
work on the Triangle Park portion of the Site. As part of the BFPP agreement, the University of
Portland agreed to provide funding for cleanup of the Triangle Park portion of the Site, which paves
the way for the redevelopment of the parcel and creation of the University's River Campus. The
BFPP Agreement provides for EPA oversight of the University's work to ensure that it is consistent
with long-term cleanup activities for the Site as a whole. The University anticipates transformation
of the former industrial property to a vibrant new campus space.
THE SITE NOW: The University has completed cleanup of the Triangle Park portion of the
Site, which is now known as the University of Portland River Campus. The University will use the
area for a new expansion of their existing campus, enabling the University to increase on-campus
housing and add a new baseball stadium, a practice sports field, a rowing team dock and a trail for
public access to the Willamette River waterfront.
With proactive land stewards and complementary cleanup and redevelopment efforts at the
University of Portland's River Campus other groups are beginning to look at other portions of this
large Superfund site for their reuse potential as well. Pier Partners has leased a 7-acre portion of
the Site for an eco-friendly business park. Some prospective tenants of the park include a biochar
production company, a wooden shipbuilding business and a solar-powered aquaponic greenhouse.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Chip Humphrey, Remedial Project
Manager, at humphrev.chip@epa.aov or (503) 326-2678; Mark Ader, Remedial Project Manager, at
ader.mark@epa.gov or (206) 553-1849; or Timothy Brincefield, Region 10 Superfund Redevelopment
Coordinator, at brincefield.timothv@epa.gov or (206) 553-2100.
&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
February 2013 2

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