Deicing is a year-round project

A glycol recovery vehicle vacuums up deicing fluids from the tarmac during a recent winter storm. Deicing materials are collected and managed through the PDX deicing system.

Although the deicing of aircraft is a familiar sight in the winter months, the planning and managing for deicing is a year-round task, and Port of Portland staff have been hard at work designing an enhanced airport deicing system for PDX. The system is part of a six-year agreement with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to ensure that deicing runoff is managed to help protect water quality.

The enhanced system will expand the collection area to capture runoff from the western portion of the airfield. Further, it will expand storage capacity of runoff, add a Columbia River outfall, and build an on-site anaerobic treatment facility. Anaerobic treatment systems use bacteria to break down deicing materials into methane, carbon dioxide, water and solids; a portion of the methane produced will be used to heat the anaerobic system.

The Port is working with numerous agencies to meet all regulatory requirements, including the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act. Last fall, the Port submitted permits to DEQ for discharging to the Columbia Slough and to the Columbia River, and early this year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will issue a draft environmental assessment. Most recently, the Port hosted an open house Feb. 5 to receive public review and comment. Staff is meeting with stakeholders, including the National Marine Fisheries Service – in addition to meeting water quality standards for human health, the enhanced system will meet all measures for aquatic life, including endangered salmon.

Production Team: Connie Bartlett, Susan Bladholm, Paul Campbell, Henry Gonzalez, Tim Jewett, Steve Johnson, Teri Loporchio, Jerry McCarthy, Martha Richmond, Melissa Valli Editor: Karen Fisher 503.460.4852

< Previous Page | Next Page >