EAST MULTNOMAH COUNTY GROUND WATER CONTAMINATION
GRESHAM, MULTNOMAH COUNTY, OREGON
CONCLUSIONS
Based on the available information, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
(ATSDR) concludes that the proposed East Multnomah County Groundwater Contamination
National Priorities List (NPL) site is a public health hazard (past, current, and future). ATSDR
made this determination because two homes have been and are presently using a contaminated
drinking water well and have refused alternative drinking water supplies. It is likely that the
amount of trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene will increase in this well. Thus,
people continuing to ingest the contaminated water from the well might have a low increased risk
of developing cancer because of the accumulative exposures (past, current, and future) to TCE
and tetrachloroethylene.
Most of the people who relied upon contaminated drinking water wells have been provided with
alternative drinking water supplies. Based on studies of workers and laboratory animals and the
low exposure to the contaminants, the exposure to TCE and tetrachloroethylene to people who
formerly relied on these residential drinking water wells does not appear to be high enough to
result in adverse health effects. Therefore, the proposed East Multnomah County Groundwater
Contamination NPL site is not a public health hazard for these people.
If the site is not remediated appropriately, there is a potential for City of Portland wells and other
downgradient drinking water wells (i.e., residential wells and the small community wells for the
West Interlachen Corporation, Interlachen Corporation, and the Blue Lake Co-op) to be
contaminated with TCE and other site-related chemicals.
In order to address the public's concerns about the occurrence of cancer within the site, an
evaluation of cancer health statistics should be conducted if the data are available for the site area.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) recommends the following:
The homeowners who might still be using the one remaining contaminated private well be
encouraged to obtain an alternative drinking water supply.
The drinking water wells downgradient of the sources of groundwater contamination be
monitored for site-related contaminants annually. Any well found to be contaminated that could
result in human exposures at or above levels of health concern should not be used as a drinking
water supply.
The cancer health statistics for the area of this NPL site be evaluated if the data are available.
The proposed East Multnomah County Groundwater Contamination National Priorities List
(NPL) site, Oregon, has been evaluated by the ATSDR Health Activities Recommendation Panel
(HARP) to determine what future health activities are recommended at this site. Because there
are indications that people have been exposed and could still be exposed to site-related
contaminants, ATSDR will evaluate health statistics (e.g., hospital cancer registries) for the
exposed population to the extent possible with available data.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS
The Public Health Action Plan (PHAP) for the proposed East Multnomah County Groundwater
Contamination National Priorities List site is a description of actions the Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) have taken or will take at the site.
The purpose of the PHAP is to ensure that this public health assessment identifies public health
hazards and includes a plan of action to stop or prevent harm to people from exposure to
hazardous substances in the environment. ATSDR, EPA and ODEQ are committed to this plan
and will ensure that it is carried out.
A. Public Health Actions Taken
ODEQ, Boeing Company, and Cascade Corporation have identified which drinking water wells
are contaminated. People who rely on these wells have been offered alternative drinking water
supplies, and most people have accepted these offers.
In 1993, ODEQ issued an order to Boeing Company and Cascade Corporation concerning the
cleanup of the Troutdale Sandstone Aquifer. The order requires the companies to control the
migration of site-related contaminants by pumping contaminated groundwater out of the
Troutdale Sandstone Aquifer and treating the contaminated groundwater. Initial testing of the
groundwater pumping system has been completed. The results of the test and the regional
numerical groundwater flow model developed by ODEQ (with support from the Boeing Company
and the Cascade Corporation) will be used to design the pump and treatment system. By October
1995, a detailed feasibility report should be issued. This feasibility report will discuss the how the
troutdale Sandstone Aquifer will be remediated.
On May 12, 1994, ODEQ issued a cleanup decision for the Swift Adhesives facility. The remedy
is a three well pump and treat system for the perched aquifer.
B. Public Health Actions Planned
EPA and ODEQ will ensure that any active downgradient drinking water wells are monitored for
site-related contaminants at least annually.
EPA and ODEQ will update ATSDR on any activities at the proposed East Multnomah County
Groundwater Contamination National Priorities List site.
PREPARERS OF REPORT
Sven E. Rodenbeck, P.E.
Environmental Engineer Consultant
Superfund Site Assessment Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
John R. Crellin, Ph.D.
Environmental Health Scientist
Superfund Site Assessment Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
ATSDR REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE
Richard W. Robinson
Regional Representative
ATSDR Region X
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