aauaviw Where is Portland Harbor? It is located on the lower Willamette River, approximately between the Broadway Bridge in downtown Portland and Sauvie Island. People work along the river and also use it for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. [sauvie] llslanal [Columbia! BsiouqhX [Hay"de?n Blslandl nmm Bridge] Legend i=i Portland Harbor Site Study Area ' River Miles f Bridge Why should I be concerned? Studies show there are contaminants at Portland Harbor that pose unacceptable risks to people, fish and wildlife. In 2000, Portland Harbor was named a Superfund site. Superfund sites are areas where toxic chemicals have been suspected of being released into the environment and the EPA determines an investigation of the type and severity of such releases is needed. The EPA also researches who may be responsible for the contamination. How did it get contaminated? Over the past century, contaminants have been released into the water and onto the shoreline surrounding Portland Harbor. The following contaminants have been found at many in-water and shoreline areas of Portland Harbor as well as in fish: • Metals, including lead, arsenic, chromium, and cadmium • Pesticides, including DDT • Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a banned coolant fluid • Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a combustion product • Dioxins and furans, byproducts of industrial processes The EPA and other partners are planning cleanup of Portland Harbor. The goal is to have a Harbor that is cleaner, fish that people can eat with lower risk, and beach areas that can be safely enjoyed by the community. ------- Ak ^F|ll United States Environmental Protection *m Agency What are the risks to people? Although we workand recreate along Portland Harbor, the primary way people are exposed to contamination there is by eating fish such as bass, catfish and carp. These fish, called resident fish, carry levels of chemical contaminants which may cause cancer or developmental problems. PCBs are the primary contaminant associated with most of the risk from eating resident fish. Young children, nursing infants and babies in the womb are the most sensitive to the chemicals: mothers and children should avoid eating thePortland Harbor residentfish pictured below. Forfish advisory information visit: www.healthoreaon.org/fishadv or call (877) 290-6767. Bass Catfish Carp What is being done to clean it up? The EPA is reviewing options to clean up Portland Harbor that are presented in a document called the feasibility study. Options include removing the contaminated sediments (river mud), treating the contaminants in place, covering or capping the contaminated sediment and allowing new sediment to naturally cover the contaminated sediment over time. What is next? The EPA will write a Proposed Plan that recommends a cleanup path for the Harbor (expected in 2016). There will be a series of public information sessions to discuss the plan and an opportunity for formal public comments. Until then, EPA will continue to meet with the public to provide updates, answer questions, and listen to community concerns. How do I get involved and stay informed? Don't wait! Contact us if you would like to have group discussions, need education materials, or want to share ideas. Visit the EPA's website to sign up for email notification of public information sessions, events and updates. Catfish Attend Community Advisory Group (CAG) meetings, second Wednesday of every month at 6:00 PM. Contact Jim Robison at 503-285-4805 or www.portlandharborcaq.info/ , for more information. , Contact EPA Alarina Conley Kristine Koch Community Involvement Coordinator Project Manager conlev.alanna@epa.gov koch.kristine@epa.gov (503) 326-6831 (206) 553-6705 Sign up for updates: http://bit.lv/ptlndhrbr EPA's Portland Harbor Web page: http://vosemite.epa.gov/r10/cleanup.nsf/sites/ptldharbor ------- |