December 2019 - Final Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD) : After reviewing and responding to input from over 1, 100 commenters, the United States Environmental Protection Agency issued the final ESD in December 2019 that identified changes to the Selected Remedy in the 2017 Record of Decision (ROD) at the Portland Harbor Superfund Site.
| City | Portland |
|---|---|
| County | Multnomah County |
| State | Oregon |
| Coordinates | 45.61528, -122.79306 |
Portland Harbor is a federal Superfund site in Oregon. The Superfund program, created by Congress in 1980, addresses sites where hazardous substances have been released or threaten release into the environment. EPA scores potential sites using the Hazard Ranking System; those that score high enough are placed on the National Priorities List.
Current status: Remedy selected. EPA has selected a cleanup remedy but construction has not yet begun. The remedy selection process involves a feasibility study, public comment period, and a Record of Decision documenting the chosen approach.
EPA has identified 10 contaminants of concern at this site, including 1,1-dichloroethene, 1,2,3,4,7,8-hexachlorodibenzofuran (hxcdf), 1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorodibenzo[b,e][1,4]dioxin (pecdd). Contamination has been detected in sediment, groundwater, surface water, fish tissue.
If you live near this site and have health concerns, your state health department can provide site-specific guidance. EPA maintains a community involvement program for most NPL sites, and site documents — including the Record of Decision, five-year reviews, and public health assessments — are typically available through EPA's Superfund site profile.