Oregon superfund site that EHAP is currently assessing:

Portland Harbor

On this page:

• In the News
• Reports
• Educational Materials
• Related Websites

Portland, Multnomah County

The Portland Harbor Superfund site is currently considered the portion of the Willamette River that spans from the southern tip of Sauvie Island to the Fremont Bridge and is located in the city of Portland (See map).

The Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS), in cooperation with Multnomah County Health Department, is advising the public of high levels of PCBs in fish caught from Portland Harbor, in the lower Willamette River. Due to the high levels of PCBs, DHS has developed special recommendations for the areas between Sauvie Island and the Fremont Bridge.

This site can best be understood by breaking it up into two sections, the in-water portion of the site and the upland sources of contamination.

  EHAP's In-Water Activities  |  EHAP's Upland Activities

The Superfund process has determined that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) will jointly manage the investigation and cleanup of the site. However, the EPA will be the lead agency for the in-water portion of the site and the ODEQ will be the lead agency for the upland sources of contamination. EHAP will be involved in determining the adverse human health effects and educating the community on how to reduce or prevent exposures for both in-water and upland portions of the site.

In the News

• Fish hazards prompt mini-grants for community groups for 3rd year - Aug. 10, 2005
• Fish hazards prompt mini-grants for community groups - Sept. 16, 2004
• Officials to discuss Portland Harbor fish advisory - June 23, 2004
• Advisory: Elevated levels of PCBs in resident fish from Portland Harbor - June 16, 2004

Reports

EHAP's In-Water Activities

• Recreational Use PHA
  The Oregon DHS Environmental Health Assessment Program (EHAP) is currently assessing the public health risk of recreational use (pdf) in the Portland Harbor. A public comment version of this report is scheduled to be released in the summer of 2008.

• Fish Consumption PHA
  EHAP evaluated the health risk of consuming fish from the Portland Harbor.  The final version of the report that discusses EHAP's findings was released in 2006. This document considers data on contaminant levels in fish tissue. Read more about it in the Portland Harbor PHA Summary Fact Sheet.

• Initial PHA
  In January 2002, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) evaluated the public health significance of the in-water contamination of the Portland Harbor and wrote an Initial Version Public Health Assessment (pdf) (942K). ATSDR concluded that the consumption of contaminated fish is the main way that people can be exposed to the Portland Harbor site contaminants.

EHAP's Upland Activities

• Willamette Cove Physical Hazards Investigated
  EHAP investigated the public health significance of physical hazards at the upland site known as Willamette Cove. Final Version PHC for Willamette Cove (pdf) (289K).

• McCormick and Baxter Creosoting Company Public Health Assessment
  Within the current Portland Harbor Superfund site boundaries, there is a distinct Superfund site, McCormick and Baxter Creosoting Company. ATSDR evaluated the public health significance of the contaminants, which include creosote and other wood-treating chemicals, and wrote a Public Health Assessment June 1995to: www.atsdr.cdc.gov.

Educational Materials

• A Guide to Eating Fish and Shellfish in Oregon (pdf)
• Una Guia Para Comer Pescado y Mariscos en Oregon (pdf)
• Portland Harbor and EHAP (pdf)
  A presentation from Dave Stone, Public Health Toxicologist, EHAP Program.
• Portland Harbor Fish Consumption Mini-Grants were an opportunity for community organizations to enhance outreach efforts tailored to different ethnic groups or special populations that catch and consume fish from the Portland Harbor Superfund site.

Related Websites

• Oregon Fish Advisories
• DEQ's cleanup site