Cooperative Agreement 02J54401

DESCRIPTION:BROWNFIELDS ARE REAL PROPERTY, THE EXPANSION, DEVELOPMENT OR REUSE OF WHICH MAY BE COMPLICATED BY THE PRESENCE OR POTENTIAL PRESENCE OF A HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE, POLLUTANT, OR CONTAMINANT. THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT (IIJA) FOR WILD RIVERS LAND TRUST (WRLT) TO CONDUCT REMEDIATION ACTIVITIES AS AUTHORIZED BY CERLCA 104(K)(3) IN PORT ORFORD, OREGON. ACTIVITIES:SPECIFICALLY, THIS AGREEMENT WILL PROVIDE FUNDING TO THE RECIPIENT TO CLEAN UP A BROWNFIELD SITE(S). ADDITIONALLY, THE RECIPIENT WILL COMPETITIVELY PROCURE (AS NEEDED) AND DIRECT A QUALIFIED ENVIRONMENTAL PROFESSIONAL TO CONDUCT ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ACTIVITIES, WILL CREATE A COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PLAN AND ADMINISTRATIVE RECORD FOR THE SITE(S), AND WILL REPORT ON INTERIM PROGRESS AND FINAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS BY COMPLETING AND SUBMITTING RELEVANT PORTIONS OF THE PROPERTY PROFILE FORM USING EPA'S ASSESSMENT, CLEANUP AND REDEVELOPMENT EXCHANGE SYSTEM (ACRES). THE GRANT WILL CLEAN UP THE WESTERN STATES PLYWOOD COOPERATIVE MILL, A LONG-ABANDONED TIMBER MILL THAT HAS BEEN IMPACTING THE ENVIRONMENT FOR OVER FOUR DECADES AND CONTINUES TO THREATEN NATURAL RESOURCES AND CRITICAL WILDLIFE HABITAT, ESPECIALLY SALMON, IN THE ELK RIVER, ONE OF OREGON'S WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS. THE PREFERRED CLEANUP ALTERNATIVE INCLUDES EXCAVATION AND CAPPING OF SOIL AND SEDIMENTS. SOIL AND SEDIMENT THAT EXCEEDS RISK-BASED CONCENTRATIONS, BUT THAT DO NOT EXCEED HOT SPOT CRITERIA (ESTIMATED TO BE 40% OF ALL EXCAVATED MATERIAL) WOULD BE EXCAVATED, PLACED UPLAND, AND CAPPED WITH A HIGH VISIBILITY GEOTEXTILE AND AT LEAST TWO FEET OF OTHER SOIL/SEDIMENT FROM THE SITE THAT DOES NOT EXCEED RISK-BASED CONCENTRATIONS. EXCAVATED SOIL AND SEDIMENT THAT EXCEEDS HOT SPOT CRITERIA (ESTIMATED TO BE 10% OF SOIL/SEDIMENT EXCEEDING RISK-BASED CONCENTRATIONS) WOULD BE DISPOSED OF OFFSITE AS NONHAZARDOUS WASTE IN A PERMITTED SUBTITLE D LANDFILL. A 6-INCH-THICK RESIDUALS COVER WOULD BE PLACED OVER EXCAVATED AREAS TO STABILIZE THE POST-EXCAVATION SURFACE AND PROVIDE SUITABLE HABITAT SUBSTRATE. THE RESIDUALS COVER AND ALL DISTURBED AREAS WOULD BE PLANTED WITH NATIVE PLANTS; PLANTED AREAS WOULD BE MAINTAINED FOR THREE YEARS. SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:THE PRIMARY OUTPUT OF THIS PROJECT IS THE CLEANUP, REMEDIATION AND RESTORATION OF THE WESTERN PLYWOOD MILL SITE ON THE ELK RIVE, INCLUDING THE REMOVAL OF TWO DAMS CONSTRUCTED TO ASSIST THE OPERATION OF THE MILL. SITE CLEANUP WILL ESTABLISH THE PATH FOR RESTORATION AND RECOVERY OF THE SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE RETURN OF COHO SALMON. RETURN OF COHO SALMON WILL HELP TO RE-ESTABLISH THE RECREATIONAL COHO FISHERY AND THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS FROM FISHING, HUNTING, AND WILDLIFE VIEWING IT ONCE GENERATED. FURTHER, THE RECIPIENT WILL REMEDIATE ONE BROWNFIELD SITE AND ANTICIPATES HOLDING 4 COMMUNITY MEETINGS, FINALIZING ONE ANALYSIS OF BROWNFIELD CLEANUP ALTERNATIVES, AND SUBMITTING 16 QUARTERLY REPORTS. WORK CONDUCTED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL BENEFIT THE RESIDENTS, BUSINESS OWNERS, AND STAKEHOLDERS IN AND NEAR PORT ORFORD, OREGON.