McCormick and Baxter Superfund Cleanup Site

Environmental Cleanup Site Information Number (ECSI):   74
County:  Multnomah
City:  Portland
Region: Northwest  

Contact Information

Project Manager:  Kevin Parrett
Phone: 503-229-6748
E-mail: 

Site Summary

The McCormick and Baxter site is located on the northeast shore of the Willamette River in north Portland. The site includes 41 acres of land and 23 acres of sediments beneath the Willamette River.

McCormick and Baxter Creosoting Company operated between 1944 and 1991, treating wood products with creosote, pentachlorophenol, and inorganic (arsenic, copper, chromium, and zinc) preservative solutions. Historically, process wastewaters were discharged directly to the Willamette River, and other process wastes were dumped in several areas of the site. Significant concentrations of wood-treating chemicals have been found in soil and groundwater at the site and in river sediments adjacent to the site.

Current Documents and Supporting Information

General Information

• Fact Sheet PDF
• Photo Gallery (5MB PDF file)
• First Five-Year Review PDF
  A "Five-Year Review" was conducted in 2001 of the McCormick and Baxter Site to determine whether the selected remedy, as described in the 1996 ROD, is providing protection to human health and the environment. Superfund, the federal cleanup law, requires that these reviews be conducted every five years. The next Five-Year Review will be conducted in 2006.
• City of Portland Site Reuse Assessment Report
  This report presents the results of a site reuse assessment conducted between February 2000 and June 2001 by the City of Portland Bureau of Planning under a grant by EPA. In developing reuse recommendations the City analyzed the site’s redevelopment potential and engaged stakeholders and the interested public in learning about, proposing and jointly considering what uses would best fit the site. The City’s findings were presented in a final report dated June 2001 which has been endorsed by the Portland City Council. In conducting the assessment, the City developed a list of reuse criteria that would need to be balanced in order to arrive at the most feasible land reuse, such as minimizing traffic impacts, ensuring adequacy of infrastructure, being compatible with cleanup remedies, serving an identified market or community needs and being consistent with the City of Portland Comprehensive Plan. Using these criteria, the City developed, presented and discussed a variety of reuse ideas and conceptual site plans. Four reuse scenarios were further studied and reviewed at public open houses: an open space demonstration site, recreational use, industrial use and mixed use (residential, commercial and university facilities). Project consultants prepared market feasibility and traffic analysis reports for these four scenarios. The City concluded that the site is best suited for recreational use.
  • City of Portland Bureau of Planning Document Library Web Site

Reports

• Surface Water Sampling Work Plan and Reports
• Preliminary Closeout Report PDF
  This Preliminary Close Out Report (PCOR) documents that the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has completed all construction activities for the McCormick & Baxter Creosote Company Superfund Site, in accordance with the EPA guidance, Close Out Procedures for National Priorities List Sites (OSWER Directive 9320.2-09A-P, January 2000). EPA conducted a pre-final inspection on September 26, 2005, and determined that DEQ constructed the remedies in accordance with remedial design (RD) plans and specifications. The PCOR summarizes removal and remedial actions; the pre-final, final and joint inspections; institutional controls; redevelopment potential; activities and schedule for site completion; remedial costs and five-year ROD reviews.
  • Figure 1 PDF
• Organoclay Laboratory Study Report - September 2005 PDF
  The University of Texas at Austin, under contract by DEQ, performed a series of experiments to assess the sorption capacity, permeability, swelling characteristics, leachability and strength of two selected organoclays when exposed to nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) from the McCormick and Baxter Creosote Site. This work will be used to determine the long-term monitoring and maintenance requirements of the organoclay cap placed over several creosote seeps along the Willamette River beach front.
• Barrier Wall Construction Summary Report - April 2004
  This Remedial Action Construction Summary Report summarizes construction activities and provides the as-built (record drawings) for the combined sheet pile and soil-bentonite barrier wall. The barrier wall was constructed to fully encompass 17.8 acres of NAPL impacted groundwater and the main contaminant source areas at the site, including the former Tank Farm Area (TFA) and Former Waste Disposal Area (FWDA). The total length of the wall is 3,792 linear feet and the depth varies from approximately 45 feet below ground surface (bgs) to 80 feet bgs to account for differences in the topography and soil profile at the site. Approximately 1,440 feet of the barrier wall along the bank of the Willamette River were constructed using steel sheet piles. Installation methods involved a panel-driving technique, which consisted of setting and partially driving six to eight sheet pile pairs (a panel). Approximately 2,355 linear feet of soil-bentonite barrier wall were installed to depths of up to 80 feet bgs to the side and upgradient of the primary contaminant source areas. The excavated trench was held open using a slurry mix of bentonite and water, which was later displaced by the denser soil-bentonite mixture. The mixing operation occurred concurrently with excavation within the wall’s perimeter. The soil-bentonite mixture consisted of soil excavated from the trench, slurry from the trench, imported clayey soil, and dry bentonite. The mixing and placement were accomplished by an excavator and bulldozer.
  • Remedial Action Construction Summary Report PDF
  • Appendices:
    • Appendix A PDF
    • Appendix B PDF
    • Appendix C PDF
    • Appendix D PDF
    • Appendix E PDF
    • Appendix F PDF
    • Appendix G PDF
    • Appendix H PDF
    • Appendix I PDF
  • Drawings:
    • Drawing 1 PDF
    • Drawing 2 PDF
    • Drawing 3 PDF
    • Drawing 4 PDF

Record of Decision

• Amended Record of Decision PDF
  The Amended ROD changes a component of the selected remedial action for contaminated soil. The original soil remedy in the 1996 ROD called for excavation and on-site biological treatment of contaminated soils. After the ROD was signed, DEQ initiated the detailed design of the selected soil remedy, including additional soil sampling. Based on the data gathered during the sampling, DEQ determined that dioxin contamination of soils was more widespread than previously reported. Accordingly, DEQ and EPA have selected an alternative remedy for contaminated soil at the McCormick & Baxter site.
• Record of Decision
  The Record of Decision (ROD) addresses contaminated soil, groundwater, and sediment at the McCormick and Baxter Creosoting Company, Portland Plant site (McCormick & Baxter or site) located in Portland, Oregon. The selected remedy is a series of remedial actions that address the principal threats at the site by treating the most highly contaminated soil, extracting nonaqueous phase liquid (NAPL) and treating contaminated groundwater, and capping the most highly contaminated sediment. These are considered to be the final actions needed to control the release of contaminants and reduce the risks to human health, welfare, and the environment from the site.
  • ROD Part 1 PDF 5MB
  • ROD Part 2 PDF 6MB
• Explanation of Significant Difference PDF
  The Explanation of Significant Difference describes the rationale for implementing the contingency groundwater remedy specified in the 1996 Record of Decision for the McCormick & Baxter Site. This contingency groundwater remedy is a subsurface, impermeable barrier wall. The barrier wall will encircle 16 acres of highly contaminated groundwater and extend to a depth of up to 80 feet below ground surface. The barrier wall design should be completed by the end of September 2002 with construction anticipated in late 2002 or early 2003.
  • Figure 1 PDF
  • Figures 2-6 PDF 4MB

Feasibility Study

The Feasibility Study (FS) was completed in September 1995 for the McCormick & Baxter Superfund Site. The FS was revised from an earlier version prepared under State of Oregon guidelines prior to the 1994 Superfund declaration. The revised FS incorporates both Federal and State guidelines. The FS develops remedial action alternatives and evaluates these alternatives against remedy selection factors and protectiveness of human health and the environment. The revised FS proposes the most feasible alternatives which meet the remedial action objectives for protecting human health and the environment. The FS is the basis for the Record of Decision. The complete study is available on CD, please contact Deborah Curtis at 503-229-6361.

• Errata and Addenda Memo, Table of Contents and Executive Summary PDF 3MB

Remedial Investigation

The Remedial Investigation (RI) was completed in September 1992 for the McCormick & Baxter Superfund Site. The RI provides information on site conditions, environmental contamination, and risks associated with the site. The RI is the basis for the Feasibility Study. The complete RI is available on CD, please contact Deborah Curtis at 503-229-6361.

• Table of Contents and Executive Summary PDF 2MB

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