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North Ridge Estates in Oregon added to EPA’s National Priorities List

Release Date: 09/15/2011
Contact Information: Judy Smith, EPA Public Affairs, 503-326-6994, [email protected]; Ken Marcy, EPA NPL Coordinator, 206-890-0591, [email protected]; Denise Baker-Kircher, EPA Project Manager, 206-553-4303, [email protected]

(Seattle—Sept. 15, 2011) The North Ridge Estates site near Klamath Falls, Oregon has been added to the National Priorities List (NPL), EPA’s list of the most contaminated sites in the nation.

“For many years, EPA has worked to find a way to protect North Ridge Estates residents from contamination," said Dan Opalski, EPA Region 10 Superfund Director in Seattle. "The Superfund listing provides access to resources that will enable us to get the site cleaned up for good.”

North Ridge Estates was proposed to the NPL in March 2011 after the State of Oregon used a one-time option to nominate the site for listing. The site is contaminated with asbestos containing materials and other contaminants from the improper demolition of a World War II era military barracks and other activities. The former Kingsley Firing Range Annex is also part of the site.

EPA began working with DEQ to cleanup in 2003 using EPA emergency removal funds, but after two years it was clear that the needs of the site exceeded EPA’s authority under the Superfund emergency removal program. In 2006, the settlement of a lawsuit between homeowners and potentially responsible parties relocated residents away from contamination and also provided EPA with funds to complete a remedial investigation, feasibility study and proposed cleanup plan. EPA expects to finalize a Record of Decision selecting a final remedy for the site later this month.

For more information about North Ridge Estates:
https://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/cleanup.nsf/sites/NRE

To view the national EPA news release about the addition of North Ridge Estates and other sites across the United States to the National Priorities List: https://www.epa.gov/newsroom/