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Final Cleanup Plan Selected For North Ridge Estates Superfund Site in Oregon

Release Date: 09/29/2011
Contact Information: Judy Smith, EPA Public Affairs, 503-326-6994, [email protected]; Julie Wroble, EPA Toxicologist, 206-553-1079, [email protected]

(Seattle—Sept. 29, 2011) EPA has finalized a Record of Decision, documenting the plan to provide a permanent, long-term remedy for contamination for a portion of the North Ridge Estates Superfund Site near Klamath Falls, Oregon.  The site was placed on the EPA National Priorities List on September 16, 2011.

“Protecting families living in and near the North Ridge Estates residential area has been a priority for EPA since 2003,” said Dan Opalski, EPA Region 10 Superfund Director in Seattle. “This Record of Decision provides a good solution to a difficult contamination problem and it protects the health of the community both now and in the future.”   

The Record of Decision normally follows years of investigation and planning at a Superfund Site.  At North Ridge Estates, EPA began working with Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) on cleanup in 2003 using EPA emergency removal funds, but after a time it became clear that the final solution to 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. 

The Record of Decision outlines the remedy for the area within the footprint of the former marine barracks and nearby areas where contamination has been found.  Cleanup will be achieved by excavating contaminated material and placing it in on-site repositories.  Both the excavated areas and repositories will be capped with a barrier layer of clean soil; then site controls such as signing, fencing and deed notices will be put in place.  After cleanup, the site will be monitored to make sure human health is protected.

During 2010 and 2011, EPA used emergency removal funding to complete some high priority cleanup work at North Ridge Estates.  Now that the site is on the National Priorities List, it is eligible for Superfund monies needed to complete the remedy and return the site to productive reuse.  

Planning, investigation and cleanup of the portion of the site that was the former Kingsley Firing Range Annex will be completed in the future.

To view the Record of Decision or for more information about North Ridge Estates:
https://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/cleanup.nsf/sites/NRE