Bradford Island sits in the Columbia River about three miles west of Cascade Locks, Oregon, as part of the Bonneville Dam complex. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers used the island for chemical storage, equipment storage, and waste disposal starting in 1938. A hazardous waste landfill operated on the eastern side of the island until 1982, and a pistol range, light bulbs, and electrical equipment were also disposed of in upland areas and the river. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List in March 2022, making it an official Superfund site.
Contamination affects multiple parts of the environment. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and heavy metals have been found in upland soils, river sediment, groundwater, and stormwater. PCBs have also been detected in fish and shellfish near the island. In 2013, Oregon and Washington health agencies issued a joint advisory recommending that no one eat resident fish, meaning non-migratory fish, caught from the Bonneville Dam complex between Bradford Island and Ruckel Creek about one mile upstream. Human exposure is not currently under control, and groundwater migration status cannot be determined due to insufficient data.
The Corps of Engineers is responsible for implementing cleanup work. EPA signed a Federal Facility Agreement (FFA) with the Corps, Oregon, and Washington in March 2024, which took effect September 23, 2024. The FFA sets an enforceable schedule for investigation and cleanup and gives EPA final authority on key decisions. Before any cleanup remedy can be proposed for public comment, the Corps must complete and EPA must approve a full analysis of cleanup options for both upland and in-water areas. The Corps has committed to seeking funding primarily from the Department of Defense. Since 1998, the Corps has conducted studies and removed some electrical equipment and contaminated sediment from the river, but physical construction of cleanup is not yet complete.
Cleanup is organized into three geographic areas: Upland Bradford Island, River Forebay, and Cascades Island. A federal removal action for the upland area is scheduled to start in early 2026. The River Forebay remedial investigation and feasibility study began in January 2024 and is expected to wrap up around 2028. The Cascades Island investigation is set to begin in 2026.
Community members can get involved through several channels. Columbia Riverkeeper received a $50,000 Technical Assistance Grant in April 2024 to hire an independent technical advisor who will help explain technical reports and cleanup proposals to the public. The Corps of Engineers runs a Restoration Advisory Board that meets monthly and is open to the public. Community members can also contact EPA staff directly for questions or to find site documents.
