We are looking to recruit community members for the Portland Harbor Superfund Site Collaborative Group! The Site’s website is here.
What is the Collaborative Group and when will they meet? Keep reading for more information on this exciting opportunity to join the multi-party forum that will be kicking off in the Spring of 2021.
What: The Portland Harbor Superfund Site is about 10 miles of the Lower Willamette River where the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is working with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to address contamination in the sediment, surface water, and groundwater of the river. The Collaborative Group idea was born from Portland-area Community Leaders’ vision for how to move the cleanup forward. Community Leaders, EPA, and DEQ have reached consensus to convene an:
“Inclusive forum for interested and affected parties to share and receive updates, provide feedback, and make individual member recommendations to EPA and DEQ regarding the Site cleanup process for the life of the project.”
Who: Community leaders want to know if you are interested in representing your community or interest group at the Collaborative Group table! They would like to convene a diverse group of individuals with varied interests and perspectives who also want to be involved in the Willamette River cleanup. The Community Leaders are specially looking for individuals with ties to:
- Tribal interests: Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities Civic engagement Environmental and conservation Environmental justice communities Houseless communities;
- Impacted neighborhoods: (specifically focused within Northeast, North, and Northwest Portland) Public health Social justice Workforce developmentYouth or university groups.
How to Join: If you or someone you know would like to share your community experiences and participate in the Willamette River cleanup process as a Portland Harbor Superfund Site Collaborative Group member, please email Kizz Prusia at kprusia@triangleassociates.com or call Annie Kilburg at 503-891-3262 by January 31, 2021.
- If you are interested in the Collaborative Group but prefer not to become a member at this time, you are still invited to attend and observe meetings in a listening role. There will be an opportunity for observers to ask questions at each meeting. Contact Kizz to be added to the email distribution list.
For More Information: To review the Collaborative Group’s early Draft Charter, see this website.
“The river that runs in the valley makes the valley that holds it. This is the doorway: the valley of the river – Ursula K. Le Guin”