Citizens Jump into Portland Harbor Super Fund Cleanup

By Joe Keating

The Portland Harbor is polluted, causing health hazards for all those who fish, boat, and swim in it. Last year the Federal Government declared the harbor pollution one of the nation's most serious contamination areas and declared it a Super Fund site. This designation finally set in motion a process by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to clean up the mess.

Cleaning up our harbor is a huge undertaking that will take years and millions of dollars. It is one of the most important undertakings to ever have occurred in Portland. The Levels of contamination in the harbor have been caused by years of neglect by industry and the City of Portland. Pollution from PCPs to humane waste abounds in the harbor exposing us to dangerous and unacceptable environmental health hazards. This is of particular concern for those who regularly fish and eat their catch as part of their normal routine doing so exposes you and your family to serious health risks and you are encouraged to cease the practice.

Nine months ago, at the urging of concerned citizens, the EPA assisted the community in forming a citizens group to monitor and impact the cleanup process and the Portland Harbor Citizens Advisory Group (PHCAG) was born.

The PHCAG has been meeting monthly and has organized itself into a serious entity. It is comprised of 21 individuals from neighborhood associations, environmental, health, recreation, business groups, and citizens at large. Its stated mission is "To ensure a Portland Harbor Cleanup that restores, enriches, and protects the environment for fish, wildlife, human health, and recreation through community participation.”

The EPA has the prime responsibility for the clean up. Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) works closely with the EPA in an advisory capacity. The EPA's approach is to encourage the potential polluters known as "Potentially Responsible Parties" (PRPs) to voluntarily come to the table and establish, implement, and pay for an acceptable plan to clean up the harbor. If they don't, the EPA can then impose sanctions against them including cleaning up the harbor themselves and then suing the PRPs at triple the cost of the cleanup. Currently the EPA has given notice to 60 PRPs that they are to get involved. To date only ten of the 60 have agreed to participate and those ten have formed what is known as The Lower Willamette Group (LWG). The LWG is comprised right now of the Port of Portland, the City of Portland, and eight of the larger corporations on the harbor. This group has prepared an initial cleanup plan and has begun testing the fish in the harbor to determine the extent of contamination.

If all this sounds confusing and technical, it is. -Thus the reason the PHCAG has stepped in, making sure the needs of the citizens are protected and that an effective cleanup of the harbor occurs. Experience tells us that if left to its own devices, especially when big money is involved, the PRPs will not do the job. Despite assurances from the EPA of a successful outcome, the reality is that the EPA is short of cash and, in this political environment, short of willpower. The best bet for the community is to bring the force of public opinion into the equation and demand that the PRPs be good corporate citizens and neighbors. They made the mess and now they must clean it up.

The Education and Outreach Group of the PHCAG has initially adopted the challenge of engaging the public by establishing a media strategy to inform the public. It is very concerned about the contaminated fish consumption problem and will make every effort to inform our citizens about this dangerous risk. Also, because only ten of the initial 60 PRPs are participating with the EPA, the group plans to identify to the public the non -participants and demand explanation as to their Lack of involvement. The group has prepared an initial database of all the PRPs and will be incorporating the information in a website. It also plans site visits to the PRPs plants and a questionnaire to be answered.

This effort should be of particular concern to those of us who live and work in North Portland. As you know, North Portland community has an intimate relationship to the harbor. Many of our neighbors eat the fish. Many play in the water. Some of the most seriously polluted areas of the harbor are located near you.

The PHCAG needs your help and involvement. All our meetings are open and we encourage you to come and share your concerns and advice. We are citizens, just like you, trying to improve things. Please help us. If you would like more information about our activities and meeting schedules please contact me at 503-234-3613 or keats@teleport.com.

Joe Keating is the coordinator for the Education and Outreach Group of the PHCAG and the Outreach Program Manager, for the Oregon Center for Environmental Health.