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About St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 12, 2016)
North Portland’s Community Newspaper Serving: Arbor Lodge, Bridgeton, Cathedral Park, East Columbia, Hayden Island, Kenton, Overlook, Piedmont, Portsmouth, St. Johns, University Park Bi-Weekly - PO Box 83068, Port. OR 97283 - 503-283-5086 - reviewnewspaper@gmail.com - WEB: www.stjohnsreview.com Superfund forums kick off in St. Johns Community Forum 2: Willamette River Superfund February 23, Tuesday, 7-9pm Linnton Community Center, 10614 NW St Helens Rd, Port- land, OR 97231 (Parking available at Linnton Feed & Seed, 10920 NW St Helens Rd.) I n anticipation of decisions in the spring, around 100 neigh- bors packed the St. Johns Community Center auditorium on Jan 26 to learn more about the superfund cleanup coming in to north and northwest Portland. The event sponsored by the Port- land Harbor Community Advisory Group (PHCAG) featured panel- ists including EPA, PHCAG mem- bers Jim Robison, and Bill Egan of north Portland, as well as Tra- vis Williams of Willamette River- keeper representing environmen- tal issues, and Ibrahim Mubarak representing the river’s houseless community. Shamus Linsky of St. Johns Neighborhood Association was tapped to facilitate the event. Bill Egan, a lifelong fi sherman on the lower Willamette, started the panel discussion with a true story about a boating family that decided to stop at the Arkema site for a picnic. He described how the kids got out of the boat and ran along the beach only to fi nd they had chemical burns on their feet. Arkema lies across the river from St. Johns and once made Agent Orange, a dioxin product. The site is one of the most contaminated on the river. The EPA is proposing 5 clean- up options for the 11 miles using various combinations of capping, dredging and monitored natural recovery (MNR). Newer biolog- ical treatments may also be used to a small degree. Community Ad- visory members would like to see the fi sh, sediments and water in the lower Willamette eventually as healthy as in the rest of the metro area and feel it is a matter of equity for north and northwest Portland- ers. EPA is promising only some- what less toxic fi sh and insists that the fi sh warning signs will have to stay in place forever. PHCAG members, Willamette Riverkeep- er, Audubon Portland and the Ya- kama Nation feel a more robust option, an alternative they call G+, is needed that removes more persistent toxins by increasing It’s time to: Celebrate North Portland E St Johns Review PO Box 83068 Port. OR 97238 #3 Feb. 12, 2016 ach year the community is blessed with the Cele- brate North Portland event where many deserving people from the community are honored. This year the event will take place on Friday, March 4, 2016. Doors open at 5:00pm, dinner is served at 6:15pm and the program begins at 7:00. The occasion offers unforgetta- ble fun, entertainment, a fantastic meal and many surprises. This year promises to be just as wonderful with many being honored to show appreciation and give recognition 515-840 to those who have dedicated their time and energies in making the North Portland community such a great corner of the world. Organizer Michael Verbout has announced the following honorees for 2016: Michael Fahey Years of community and civic ser- vice throughout North Portland. Emilie Saks-Webb Service to the community through the St. John’s Neighborhood Asso- ciation. Babs Adamski Relentless advocacy throughout the North Portland Community in an array of platforms. Jim Kuffner Service to the community through connection of University of Port- land and North Portland. Charlotte Cook Service to education, Roosevelt students, and giving spirit. Mike Nealy Service to the community through the seasonal attraction, Winter Wonderland. Sharon Nassett Service to the community through advocacy in regards to transporta- tion alternatives. Donna Cohen Service to North Portland through tireless efforts with transportation and education at Roosevelt High School. Richard Ellmyer portland@yahoo.com . Volunteer work and service with Verbout shared, “Our theme political and social issues impact- this year is “Celebrate North Port- ing North Portland. land-The Oscars”. Georgian Wilkerson Volunteer work with the senior community. Sarah Anderson Service through her efforts of con- necting St. Johns Business district and the educational community. Vinnie Barkett Sharing and giving to multiple events and organizations through- out the North Portland community. Jamie and Marie Noehren Operating and connecting with the community through successful business ownership. Verbout said, “We expect this year’s event will be another sold out affair, and encourage every- one to submit their registration for tickets soon before they’re gone.” Michael Verbout, founder & one Registration is easy. Go to: of the organizers for the Celebrate www.evenbrite.com. Type in, North Portland event. “Celebrate North Portland” and “Portland, Oregon” in the search Congratulations: box, then follow the instructions This issue’s Masthead to register and pay using a credit was taken by card. Or, go to page 8 of this issue Jason Hamilton and he is of the REVIEW and complete the offi cially entered into the registration form, and mail or drop contest to win $100 at the it off at Moonstruck Chocolate end of the year. Company, 6600 N. Baltimore Ave, SEND YOUR BRIDGE Portland, OR 97203) PHOTO in today. See For questions about payment or page 2 for details. the event email celebrate.north- dredging to 1000 acres and relying less on monitored natural recovery that does not effectively deal with them. The forum Q&A was lively with many questions and concerns aris- ing from neighbors including: Q: Cost—who bears burden, taxpayer or industry? A: Polluting industries bear the cost. Superfund is a polluter-pays process, though some businesses are insisting that ratepayers must pay for any of their pollution com- ing out of city pipes. Hopefully the city will fi ght this assertion on be- half of ratepayers. The city is re- quired to pay for any orphan sites abandoned by industry though there are only a few. Q: Which alternatives include a CDF/toxic waste dump at T4? A: Three of the fi ve alternatives. The fi rst two have too little dredg- ing to fi ll it. Q: Should we comment on where the dredge material goes? A: Yes, we would like to hear from you. Q: Will there be air quality monitoring during the process? North Portland chairs have asked for more. A: There will be some monitoring. Still to be decided is how much. Q: What is in place to make sure the cleanup happens in future? Is it enforceable? A: Yes, the EPA Record of Decision is enforceable by law. Q: Which of the alternatives guarantee that re-release will not happen during an earth- quake? A: Dredging and removal is the only method that reliably protects the river from recontamination. Q: Will we ever get to no risk? A: No, one reason is because there are pollutants coming in from up- river. EPA is simply lowering risk. All are welcome to the next su- perfund forum on Feb. 23, 7-9 at the Linnton Community Center at 10614 NW St Helens Rd., where there will be a different set of pan- elists. Parking will be available at Lin- nton Feed & Seed, 10920 NW St Helens Rd. For more information and updates see PortlandHarbor- CAG.info.
