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Environmental Cleanup Site Information (ECSI) Database Site Summary Report - Details for Site ID 1641, U.S. Moorings

This report shows data entered as of December 7, 2023 at 9:16:23 PM

This report contains site details, organized into the following sections: 1) Site Photos (appears only if the site has photos); 2) General Site Information; 3) Site Characteristics; 4) Substance Contamination Information; 5) Investigative, Remedial and Administrative Actions; and 6) Site Environmental Controls (i.e., institutional or engineering controls; appears only if DEQ has applied one or more such controls to the site).  A key to certain acronyms and terms used in the report appears at the bottom of the page.

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Environmental Cleanup Site Information (ECSI) Database Site Summary Report - Details for Site ID 1641, U.S. Moorings

General Site Information

Site ID: 1641 Site Name: U.S. Moorings CERCLIS No: 9960010701
Address: 8010 NW St. Helens Rd. Portland 97210
  County: Multnomah Region: Northwest
Other location information: Site is located 6.2 miles upstream from the confluence of Willamette and Columbia Rivers, on the west bank of the Willamette. Part of the site extends into T1N R1W, Section 11.
Investigation Status: Listed on CRL or Inventory
Brownfield Site: No NPL Site: No Orphan Site: No Study Area: No
Property: Twnshp/Range/Sect: 1N , 1W , 12 Tax Lots:
  Latitude: 45.5808 deg. Longitude: -122.7632 deg.  Site Size: 13.4 acres
Other Site Names:
  COE Civil Portland Moorings
  U.S. Government Moorings
  U.S. Moorings
  Portland Harbor Sediment Study
  US Army COE - Portland Moorings

Site Characteristics

General Site Description:
Site History:
Contamination Information: The site has been in operation since 1904, serving as a maintenance port for Corps of Engineers vessels. Contamination of Willamette River sediments has occurred partly as a result of site activities such as vessel maintenance (sandblasting, scaling, repair and painting, for example), and spills from vessels in dock and from refueling operations. Some of the sediment contamination may have resulted from migration from upstream sites such as Elf-Atochem, Rhone-Poulenc, Gould, and Gasco. In any case, Willamette River sediment sampling between 1988 and 1994 has shown elevated levels of PAHs, pesticides, and metals, including tributyl tin. Sediment contamination at the upstream end of the site was significant enough that the Corps abandoned plans to dredge this area.
Manner and Time of Release:
Hazardous Substances/Waste Types: Petroleum hydrocarbons, PAHs, PCBs, and metals, including tributyl tin.
Pathways:
Environmental/Health Threats: Sediment contamination in the Willamette River adjacent to the site is likely to be toxic to benthic organisms, bottom-feeding fish, and possibly anadromous fish that migrate through this area. Because DEQ has no data on contaminants dissolved or suspended in surface water, it is not clear how significant an effect this sediment contamination may have on migrating fish.
Status of Investigative or Remedial Action: (GMW 7/28/97) Notwithstanding the likely contribution from the upstream GASCO site to sediment contamination at Portland Moorings, there are on-site sources of contamination at Portland Moorings, including tributyl tin, other metals, PAHs, and petroleum hydrocarbons. Near-shore sediment contamination could pose risks to ecological receptors in the river, as well as to humans via direct contact and, potentially, ingestion of contaminated fish. In addition, since there are at least five documented drinking water wells within 1 mile of the site, groundwater is a potential pathway of concern. Further action needs include: 1) research on historical activities and chemical handling, storage and disposal areas on-site; 2) further sampling of sediments and surface water adjacent to the site, for TBT and metals; 3) shallow groundwater sampling beneath Areas One and Two (refer to map in strategy recommendation); and 4) soil sampling for PCBs in areas where the Corps handled electrical or hydraulic equipment over the years. Further state action is a medium priority. (10/29/97 JMW/SAP) On 10/22/97 and 10/23/97, minor releases to surface waters were reported at the US ACOE site. The most likely cause for the releases was determined to be a recent DEQ sediment sampling survey and the prop wash from an ACOE vessel that pulled in. DEQ's Spill Response Program will not be requesting a report. (4/18/00 ACV/VCP) Formal agreement negotiations; RI required. Part of Portland Harbor investigation. (12/28/00 ACV/VCP) Formal Agreement negotiations on hold pending EPA decision on federal sites. (5/01 ACV/VCP) Site referred to EPA for RI. (June 09) EPA investigations ongoing
Data Sources:

Substance Contamination Information

Substance Media Contaminated Concentration Level Date Recorded
ACENAPHTHENE Sediment 9.4 ppm 10/12/1989
ANTHRACENE Sediment 5.5 ppm 10/12/1989
ARSENIC Sediment 60 ppm 12/20/1994
BENZO(a)ANTHRACENE Sediment 4.7 ppm 10/12/1989
BENZO(a)PYRENE Sediment 5.5 ppm 10/12/1989
BENZO(b)FLUORANTHENE Sediment 6.8 ppm 10/12/1989
BENZO(ghi)PERYLENE Sediment 5.7 ppm 10/12/1989
CHROMIUM Sediment 87 ppm 12/20/1994
CHRYSENE Sediment 5.9 ppm 10/12/1989
COPPER Sediment 140 ppm 12/20/1994
DDD,p,p'- Sediment 0.47 ppm 10/12/1989
DDT,p,p'- Sediment 0.2 ppm 10/12/1989
DIBENZO(a,h)ANTHRACENE Sediment 0.83 ppm 10/12/1989
DIBENZOFURAN Sediment 0.77 ppm 10/12/1989
DIELDRIN Sediment 0.029 ppm 10/12/1989
FLUORANTHENE Sediment 20 ppm 10/12/1989
FLUORENE Sediment 5.3 ppm 10/12/1989
INDENO(1,2,3-cd)PYRENE Sediment 3.9 ppm 10/12/1989
LEAD Sediment 335 ppm 10/12/1989
NAPHTHALENE Sediment 21 ppm 10/12/1989
PCBs Soil 0.6 ppm 2/11/1993
PETROLEUM HYDROCARBONS Soil 2,400 ppm 9/29/1992
PHENANTHRENE Sediment 29 ppm 10/12/1989
PYRENE Sediment 27 ppm 10/12/1989
TRIBUTYLTIN Sediment 0.24 ppm 6/14/1994
ZINC Sediment 638 ppm 12/20/1994

Investigative, Remedial and Administrative Actions

Action Start Date Compl. Date Resp. Staff Lead Pgm
Refer to Program  (Primary Action) 04/05/2001 04/05/2001 James Anderson VCS
View Full Report Showing Action History

Key to Certain Acronyms and Terms in this Report:

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