Upper Columbia River Study Area

EPA proposing Upper Columbia River to Superfund list

EPA is proposing the Upper Columbia River Site to the Superfund National Priorities List. See below for information about next steps.

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News and announcements

EPA seeking community feedback

EPA is working on an update to the Community Involvement Plan and a Technical Assistance Needs Assessment for the Upper Columbia River study area. We’re conducting interviews and would like to hear from you if you are a member of the community or if you represent a community organization, Tribe, government agency, other interested party.

The information from these interviews will inform our approach to community involvement and information sharing efforts during the investigation and cleanup process. All interviews will remain anonymous and confidential.

We want to hear about:

  • How can we effectively engage with communities?
  • How do communities prefer to receive site-related information from the EPA?
  • What are the primary concerns about the Upper Columbia River?
  • How might a Community Advisory Group help the affected communities and entities to work together and address the impacts on the community?
  • How can technical information about the site best be provided by EPA to the community? 

If you are interested in participating, please let us know and a representative from our contractor, Skeo Solutions, will contact you to set up an interview. Please specify if you would like an in-person or virtual interview, or if you would rather provide a written response by email. Please also let us know if you would like an EPA representative to be present during your interview.

For more information, or to volunteer to provide feedback, contact Kristin Ching, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator, at  206-900-4344 or [email protected].

Video presentations from July community meeting now available

Thanks to everyone who attended and participated in the July 17, 2024, community meeting in Northport. Videos of the slides and presentations shared at the meeting are now available on EPA's YouTube channel:

Digital copies of the posters shared at the meeting are available upon request by contacting Kristin Ching ([email protected]), 206-900-4344.

EPA to conduct time-critical removal/soil cleanup action

EPA is planning to conduct a time-critical removal/soil cleanup action this summer and fall. We are currently reviewing existing soil sampling data to identify properties with concentrations in soil above the removal action level of 200 mg/kg for lead, and/or 90 mg/kg for arsenic. We are focusing on properties where children and/or women of childbearing age have unrestricted access to lead contaminated soil, including properties containing single- and multi-family dwellings, apartment complexes, vacant lots in residential areas, schools, or day care. We are prioritizing a total of approximately 15 properties for soil removal/early action in 2024. 

EPA will be contacting property owners for voluntary consent for access, as appropriate. We anticipate that field work will begin in September 2024.

EPA funding that is available for this soil cleanup effort is approximately $3 million using Superfund tax funds dedicated to residential lead cleanups. We are prioritizing the use of these funds to protect vulnerable populations such as young children and women of childbearing age from exposure to high levels of lead contamination in soils on residential properties. The state of Washington has also agreed to contribute to this cleanup action by directly funding the disposal of contaminated soil.

Proposed Superfund listing

Why EPA is proposing this site to the NPL

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, or Superfund, grants EPA the authority to clean up contaminated sites that are determined to pose a risk to people’s health and/or the environment.

The National Priorities List (NPL) is a prioritized list of sites that warrant further investigation and may require cleanup, and also ensures funding is available, if needed, to conduct cleanup.

Listing a site on the NPL is a two-step process: first, a site is proposed to the NPL and, following a public comment period, a decision is made whether to place the site on the NPL.

Listing on the NPL would:

  • Assist EPA in securing comprehensive and timely cleanup of the river and adjoining uplands.
  • Provide EPA access to critical federal funding.

Additional information related to the proposed listing is available on EPA's website at Current NPL Updates: New Proposed NPL Sites and New NPL Sites.

Public comments

EPA accepted comments on the proposed listing from March 7 through May 6, 2024.

We will consider all comments submitted during the comment period and publish a response to the comments prior to making a decision on whether to place the site on the National Priorities List.

If you have further questions, please contact Julie Congdon ([email protected]), 206-553-2752.

Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study

Bossburg Flat area of upper Columbia River in Washington, looking north.

Summary

EPA continues to investigate the size and scope of contamination in the Upper Columbia River and affected upland areas. The current study area covers approximately 150 miles of the Columbia River, from the Grand Coulee Dam to the U.S.-Canada border, and contaminated adjacent uplands.

The Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study are underway as part of the 2006 Settlement Agreement between Teck Cominco Metals Ltd., Teck Cominco American Incorporated (together referred to as “Teck”), the U. S. Department of Justice, and EPA.

The Remedial Investigation establishes the nature and extent of contamination and includes findings from human health and ecological risk assessments.

The Feasibility Study develops, screens, and evaluates cleanup actions to address risks identified in the river, lakes, or uplands.

The Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study are funded by Teck through the current settlement agreement. There is currently no settlement agreement for funding of the cleanup.

Human Health Risk Assessment

The Human Health Risk Assessment was completed in 2021. Lead in residential soil is the primary concern for people’s health and the environment. We found that upland soils contain lead in concentrations that pose potential risks to residents in some areas.

Public beaches and the river are safe for recreation, except for Bossburg Beach.

You can read EPA's full report:

We also hosted public webinars on June 10 and July 15, 2020, to discuss to results of the assessment. You can watch a recording of EPA's presentation (YouTube).

Ecological Risk Assessments

In addition to the Human Health Risk Assessment, two Baseline Ecological Risk Assessments are also underway.

Upland Baseline Ecological Risk Assessment

The Upland Baseline Ecological Risk Assessment evaluates risks to plants and wildlife exposed to contaminants such as zinc, cadmium, and lead in upland areas above the river.

Preliminary findings indicate that cadmium, lead, and zinc present the greatest and most widespread risk to plants, invertebrates, mammals, and birds exposed to soil in the upland area. Most impacted areas are remote and relatively steep.

Teck submitted a dispute on January 19, 2024. EPA and Teck are currently discussing Teck's concerns on the document.

You can read EPA's full report:

Aquatic Baseline Ecological Risk Assessment

The Aquatic Baseline Ecological Risk Assessment, currently under review, will evaluate risk to plants, wildlife, fish, and other organisms in and along the river from contaminants such as zinc, copper, cadmium, mercury, and lead found in sediment and slag.

Comprehensive surface water sampling was completed by Teck throughout the Upper Columbia River area, including areas where irrigation water is drawn from the river, to assess concentrations of metals during various river conditions. All water samples were below human health and ecological surface water screening levels.

Residential cleanups

EPA completed several rounds of cleanups on properties with the greatest contamination and potential risk to people’s health.

  • In 2022, EPA completed soil cleanups at 15 residential properties in Northport, with assistance from the Washington Department of Ecology.
  • To date, EPA has cleaned up 59 residential and common use properties in Northport, and Teck has cleaned up 18 additional properties and one tribal allotment.
  • EPA has prioritized cleanups on residential properties that pose the greatest risk and anticipates that more than 150 residential properties could be eligible for cleanup in the future.

How to protect you and your family from lead contamination

There are simple, healthy actions that you and your family can do to decrease contact with arsenic, lead, or other harmful chemicals that may be in dirt. The Washington Department of Ecology's Dirt Alert program provides information on how you can protect yourself and your family.

Site background

Historic discharges of wastes and emissions from smelter operations have contaminated portions of the Upper Columbia River. Decades of smelter processes and facility operations have caused releases of hazardous substances, granulated slag, liquid effluents, emissions, and accidental spills in and around the river.

The primary facility known to have contributed to hazardous substance contamination to the Upper Columbia River is the Teck Metals Ltd. (Teck) facility located in Trail, British Columbia, Canada, on the Columbia River, approximately 10 river miles upstream of the international boundary. The former Le Roi smelter located on the Columbia River in Northport, Washington, also contributed to hazardous substance contamination.

Residential properties where soil is contaminated with lead and arsenic may pose a health risk to current and future residents, especially young children and pregnant mothers. Health risks may result from direct contact with contaminated soil or incidental ingestion of soil from yards, gardens, and play areas.

High levels of zinc, cadmium, and lead contamination found in upland soils are a threat to invertebrates, small birds, and mammals. River sediments and riverbanks are contaminated with levels of slag and metals including lead, arsenic, zinc, cadmium, chromium, copper, and mercury that exceed Washington State Freshwater Sediment Management Standards.

In August 1999, the Colville Confederated Tribes petitioned EPA to conduct an assessment of environmental contamination in the Upper Columbia River. The petition expressed concerns about risks to people’s health and the environment from contamination in the river.

In 2001, EPA collected samples of river sediment to learn more about the types and amounts of pollution that exists. The results showed that contamination is present in the lake and river sediments, and that a more detailed investigation is needed to evaluate possible risks to human health and the environment.

In 2006, Teck American, Inc. signed an agreement with EPA to pay for a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study. The current study area covers approximately 150 miles of the Columbia River, from the Grand Coulee Dam to the U.S.-Canada border, and contaminated adjacent uplands.

Documents

Many site documents are available online, including technical reports, legal documents, and fact sheets.

  • Reports and Documents
  • Administrative Records (What is an Administrative RecordA compilation of documents supporting an administrative action; under Superfund, administrative actions often compel Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs) to undertake or pay for hazardous waste site cleanups.?)

Some documents are also available on Teck American's Upper Columbia River Project website.

Community information repositories

Information about this project is also available at the following locations throughout the project area, including access to technical documents, fact sheets, and other site information. Before you visit, please call ahead for business hours.

  • Northport: Northport Town Hall, 315 Summit St., 509-732-4450.
  • Northport: Northport Public Library, 521 Center Ave, 509-732-8928.
  • Colville: Colville Public Library, 195 S. Oak Street, 509-684-6620.
  • Inchelium: Inchelium CCT Library and Resource Center, 12 Community Loop Road, 509-634-2791.
  • Nespelem: Colville Confederated Tribes Office of Environmental Trust, 21 Colville Street, 509-634-2413.
  • Grand Coulee: Grand Coulee Public Library, 225 Federal Street, 509-633-0972.
  • Wellpinit: Spokane Tribe Department of Natural Resources, 6290 D Ford-Wellpinit Road, 509-626-4400.
  • Spokane: Spokane Public Library, 906 W. Main, 509-444-5300.

Community technical assistance

EPA’s national Technical Assistance Services for Communities program provides independent assistance through an EPA contract to help communities better understand the science, regulations and policies of environmental issues and EPA actions. Under the program, a contractor provides scientists, engineers and other professionals to review and explain information to communities. This assistance supports community efforts to get more involved and work productively with EPA to address environmental issues.

EPA has awarded Citizens for a Clean Columbia with a technical assistance contract funded by Teck American to participate in the RI/FS process. For more information, visit Citizens for a Clean Columbia.

Learn more about EPA's Technical Assistance Services for Communities Program

Contacts

For site contacts at the Washington Department of Ecology, visit Ecology's Upper Columbia River/Lake Roosevelt website.

To join our mailing list for this site, contact Kristin Ching ([email protected]). Please indicate whether you'd like to receive information by email or printed version by mail (if by mail, please provide your mailing address).

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Last updated on September 9, 2024