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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.