Current Status

The Port of Portland has worked closely with the Environmental Protection Agency to develop a plan to clean up contaminated sediment at marine Terminal 4 in North Portland. The first phase of that cleanup plan was successfully completed in fall 2008.

During the phase 1 work, the Port dredged 12,819 cubic yards of sediment contaminated with petroleum, metals, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. With a fish diversion mesh and turbidity curtain in place, and with continuous modifications to the dredging process to reflect river bottom conditions, dredging activities met all water quality goals and were completed on time and within budget. Dredged sediment was transported by barge for disposal at a landfill near The Dalles.

Contaminated sediment in the back of Slip 3 was isolated with a cap made of an organoclay-sand mix. The bank of Wheeler Bay with stabilized to reduce erosion and improve stability and planted with native vegetation. Details about this work are available by clicking on the “learn more” link above and by visiting the Phase 1 Photo Gallery.

The second phase of the T-4 project includes dredging, capping, monitored natural recovery, and the construction of a Confined Disposal Facility (CDF) to hold dredged sediment. The entire cleanup plan for T-4 was approved and selected by EPA in 2006. In September 2007, EPA granted the Port an extension for design of the CDF and allowed the selected remedy to be split into two phases. Final design of the second phase will resume in late fall 2008. More information about the second phase of the project is also available through the “learn more” link above.

The T-4 sediment removal action is part of an overall effort to clean up Portland Harbor, and all cleanup activities at T-4 are designed to be consistent with Portland Harbor-wide cleanup goals. Portland Harbor was designated a Superfund site in December 2000. In 2003, the Port became the first entity in the Harbor to sign a cleanup order with EPA.