The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the commencement of a time-critical removal action at the JH Baxter facility in West Eugene, Oregon. This initiative aims to address wood-preserving chemicals left on-site after operations ceased in 2022. Over 500,000 gallons of hazardous substances remain at the location.
The initial phase involves removing wood treatment chemicals and asbestos-contaminated materials from the site's 32-acre tank farm, which houses over 65 tanks containing various chemicals used in wood treatment processes. The cleanup is managed by EPA Region 10’s Emergency Management Site Assessment and Removal Branch.
Subsequent to chemical removal, phase two will focus on deconstructing and safely disposing of the tanks and containment structures to prevent further contamination. The entire operation is projected to take up to 12 months. Increased truck and trailer traffic along Roosevelt Blvd is anticipated during this period.
EPA plans to implement several best practices throughout the cleanup process, including:
- A robust air sampling and monitoring program to mitigate community air quality impacts
- Regular updates on the J.H. Baxter website to inform the community about progress
- Transporting materials by rail to reduce truck traffic and associated impacts
- Implementing 24/7 site security
Background information indicates that EPA began sampling events in September 2022 at the request of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. These activities included dioxin soil sampling in the Bethel neighborhood, assessments of the facility, and evaluations of tank contents. Hazardous substances identified include pentachlorophenol, creosote, dioxins, arsenic, copper, zinc, among others used in wood treatment processes. Additionally, several site components are wrapped in asbestos-containing insulation materials posing health risks.
For more details on the cleanup efforts at JH Baxter site visit www.epa.gov/node/283182.
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