EPA Research Partner Support Story: Remedial investigation/feasibility study technical support

Partner: Washington State Department of Ecology
Challenge: Upper Columbia River contaminated site
Resource: Technical support for remedial investigation/feasibility study
Project Period: 2018 – Present

EPA ORD, in coordination with Region 10 (Pacific Northwest), is providing technical support for the Upper Columbia River (UCR) Valley Superfund Site’s remedial investigation/feasibility study. EPA ORD is a member of the UCR Soil Amendment Technologies Evaluation Study technical team established through the interaction of the Coleville Confederated Tribes, Washington State Department of Ecology, Teck Resources Limited, Ramboll Environ and EPA Region 10. EPA ORD is engaged as a third-party to provide an unbiased, scientific assessment of, and expertise on, soil amendment alternatives for soil lead and associated metals in the UCR area. Amendment alternatives being evaluated include phosphate, magnesium oxides, ECOBOND®, compost, biochar and other widely accepted treatment options for lead in soil.

“Washington is addressing surface soil legacy smelter-emission impacts across a range of communities and settings spanning the state. The assessment of state-of-the-art, minimally disruptive exposure reduction surface treatment technologies for rural- residential and rural tribal-use settings common to the upper Columbia River Valley is a fundamental step toward identifying long- term cleanup measures. ORD’s participation is highly valued to ensure honest assessment, input and multi-disciplinary scientific oversight.” ‒ Washington State Department of Ecology, Toxics Cleanup Program, Upper Columbia River Site Project Coordinator John Roland

EPA has provided input on potential alternative treatments for the site and provided input on testing that could be done to predict treatment suitability/effectiveness at the site. EPA ORD also participates in site meetings and teleconferences with the region, state and potentially responsible party to discuss the site soils and alternative soil remediation approaches.

For more information, go to the Upper Columbia River Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study webpage. Active field research efforts have concluded during the summer of 2023 and a manuscript is currently in development.