Public Notice: EPA to review cleanup at Northwest Pipe & Casing/Hall Process Company Superfund site in Oregon

Summary

EPA has begun its fifth review of the environmental cleanup at the Northwest Pipe & Casing/Hall Process Company Superfund site in Clackamas, Oregon. EPA is required to review Superfund sites every five years when contaminants remain on site to make sure that cleanup actions continue to protect human health and the environment.

The site was first added to the Superfund National Priorities List in 1992.

Pipe manufacturing and coating activities occurred onsite between 1956 to 1985. Improper waste disposal contaminated soil and groundwater with solvents, primers, coal tar, coal-tar residues, polychlorinated biphenyls and oils. EPA’s cleanup of the site consisted of excavating debris and contaminated soil, thermal treatment of soil, placing a cap over the site, installing groundwater circulation wells, long-term monitoring, and limiting the use of and access to the site.

The groundwater circulation wells did not function as intended and operations were discontinued in 2007. In 2023, EPA issued an Explanation of Significant Differences (pdf) to address groundwater contamination. EPA is in the early stages of implementing the final groundwater remedy and implementation is planned to continue through 2030.

How to provide input

Community members are invited to submit feedback. If you have observations, information, or concerns about EPA’s review, please contact EPA Remedial Project Manager Lilith Wallenbrock (wallenbrock.lilith@epa.gov), 206-553-1335.

Please provide input by February 23 to be considered in our review.

To learn more about the site and past cleanup efforts, visit Northwest Pipe & Casing/Hall Process Company Superfund site.