Astoria Marine Construction Company

Overview

The Astoria Marine Construction Company site is an 8-acre marine shipyard on the east bank of the Lewis and Clark River in Astoria, Oregon. Operations dating back to 1924 contaminated soil, sediment, and groundwater with hazardous chemicals. The EPA proposed the site for the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) in 2011. An initial assessment was completed in May 1999, and a Consent Decree was finalized in June 2019.

Contaminants include petroleum, heavy metals, and organotins. Past activities such as sand blasting, painting, and waste management released these chemicals into the soil and nearby riverbed sediment. An investigation conducted from 2012 to 2015 documented the contamination. Site workers and construction workers face potential risks from regular contact with soil. Fish and wildlife are also at risk, as chemicals in riverbed sediment can accumulate in fish and increase health risks for people who eat fish from the area.

Cleanup activities began in 2020 under Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) oversight. Work included demolishing onsite buildings, excavating contaminated sediments from marine ways, and removing petroleum-contaminated soils for offsite disposal. The levee was restored in former burn pit areas in summer 2021, and upland capping was completed in summer 2022. A stormwater management system was also constructed. EPA assessments show that human exposure is currently under control and groundwater migration is stabilized. However, the site is noted as not yet having reached several formal cleanup milestones, including completion of the remedial investigation, selection of a remedy, and completion of construction.

The Oregon DEQ has determined that all major cleanup obligations have been satisfied. Following a public comment period that ran from February 1 to March 4, 2024, the agency issued a Certification of Completion and a Conditional No Further Action determination. The property owner is responsible for maintaining the upland cap, while the state will conduct long-term monitoring and maintenance of sediment caps. Future intrusive activities on the property must follow a contaminated media plan recorded on the property deed. One business currently operates at the site, employing 13 people and generating roughly $398,090 in annual sales revenue.

Community members with questions can contact the EPA Remedial Project Manager. The Community Involvement Coordinator is also available as a point of contact. The public notice, draft Certification of Completion, and draft Conditional No Further Action determination are available on the Oregon DEQ website for the site.