Oregon Cleanup Program Top Priorities

Goal: cleanup contaminated property so human health and the environment are protected and contaminated properties are returned to productive use

Things We Do Well Risk-based decisions with experienced cleanup staff Brownfield redevelopment including PPAs Collaborative work with local governments, state agencies, EPA, consultants, prospective purchasers, and responsible parties Getting sites to NFA determination

What does the state cleanup law require? oStandards for cleanup are “risk-based” cleanup levels given current and reasonably likely future land and water uses oPreference for treatment or removal of hot spots only oPreference for least cost protective remedy for contamination that is not a hot spot, often institutional or engineering controls

Recent guidance Risk-based decision making (look-up numbers) Draft bioaccumulation guidance All cleanup program guidance documents are available on-line at:

Prospective Purchaser Agreements oTool DEQ uses to facilitate cleanup and reuse of contaminated property oProvides limits on purchaser’s environmental liability in exchange for “substantial public benefits” provided by the agreement o90 PPAs have been completed

No further action determinations (includes Conditional NFAs)

Challenge 1: Stable funding Decreasing Arlington fee revenue Decreasing grant revenue Higher operating costs Emergency Response Program loss of General Fund ($400,000/year) Declining HSRAF and OSA fund balances Amount of cost recovery work varies What size program can we afford?

What are we doing to address challenge? Reduction in program size by 17 FTE Increase emphasis on cost recovery projects and meeting fiscal targets Focus on high priority work Limited orphan funds means emphasis on protecting human health e.g., drinking water

Potential Governor’s Recommended Budget Requests Orphan Site Account Emergency Response Emergency Preparedness

Challenge 2: Transition Planning 31% of DEQ’s workforce eligible to retire within 5 years Experienced project managers are steady, pragmatic, effective, and valuable in making complex site cleanup decisions We need to grow a new generation of environmental professionals – transferring knowledge and culture