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NPL Site Narrative for Reynolds Metals Company
REYNOLDS METALS
Troutdale, Oregon
Federal Register Notice: December 16, 1994Conditions at Proposal (August 23, 1994): The Reynolds facility is a primary aluminum reduction plant where alumina from bauxite is reduced to aluminum. The facility is approximately 1.25 miles north of the City of Troutdale, Oregon. The Columbia River forms its northern border and the Sandy River forms its eastern border. A dike surrounds the plant on the northern and eastern sides, and protects the plant from floods. Site areas north and east of the dike are within the 100-year flood plain.
The plant was completed in 1941 for the United States government war-time operations. Reynolds first leased the plant from the government in June 1946, and purchased it in June 1949. Currently, Reynolds owns the 80.25-acre plant area and approximately 500 surrounding acres. The aluminum reduction plant has been shut down since November 1991 for economic reasons. Currently, there are approximately 100 workers for maintenance, security, administration, and casting ingots from molten aluminum transported to the plant from the Reynolds reduction plant in Longview, Washington.
Large quantities of wastes were produced at the Reynolds plant during the production of aluminum. Twenty-one separate waste streams were identified by Reynolds in response to an EPA information request letter. Major hazardous substances of concern include polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), aluminum and other metals associated with bauxite, cyanide, fluoride, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from electrical equipment.
In May 1993, an EPA contractor collected samples at the Reynolds site. On-site sampling included surface and subsurface soil, sediment, surface water, ground water and an unknown waste pile. Elevated concentrations of cyanide, PAHs, many metals, and fluoride were detected in various sources on site. Elevated levels of cyanide and fluoride were detected in several on-site drinking water wells. Significant concentrations of aluminum, barium, manganese, cyanide, and fluoride were detected in the surface water samples. Concentrations of copper and cyanide in an on-site drainage ditch which flows to an on-site lake and then the Columbia River exceeded the freshwater quality criteria promulgated under the Clean Water Act. Elevated concentrations of fluoride, metals, and extremely high concentrations of PAHs were detected in sediment samples taken from the ditch and lake. The same contaminants were also detected in on-site wetlands.
The Columbia and Sandy Rivers are used for recreation and fishing, people reach the rivers through the Reynolds property. Anadromous fish are found in both rivers as well as numerous sensitive environments.
The Reynolds Metals Company (RMC) has expressed an interest in investigating and conducting early actions under the EPA Removal Program. RMC has initiated an integrated assessment under EPA oversight. The scheduled seven week assessment is the first phase of investigations and is a cooperative effort between RMC and EPA. On-site ground water contamination and newly discovered dump sites are being characterized and evaluated for expedited response actions.
Status (December 1994): RMC completed field work in summer of 1994 which will help determine time-critical actions, non-time-critical actions, and further investigations to be conducted at the site.
For more information about the hazardous substances identified in this narrative summary, including general information regarding the effects of exposure to these substances on human health, please see the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) ToxFAQs. ATSDR ToxFAQs can be found on the Internet at http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaq.html or by telephone at 1-888-42-ATSDR or 1-888-422-8737.