For years neighbors have had a nagging concern about Northwest Portland's air quality. Many residents of Northwest Portland have unscientifically traced the pollution's source to ESCO Corp, a metal manufacturer located on Northwest 25th between Vaughn and Nicolai streets. People have noticed a fine black dust on their porches, and complain of bad odors wafting from the plant. It's unsettling for anyone, anywhere. But we Portlanders especially think of their city as healthy and green. Surely this isn't a place where unusually high levels of toxic air-born emissions swirl around, or where we have to ask if it's safe to raise our kids?
A December 2008 USA Today Special Report titled "The Smokestack Effect: Toxic Air and America's Schools" brought the issue front and center anew, and energized those who want more done to reign in industrial businesses that overlap with dense, residential neighborhoods. The USA Today report ranked schools in North and Northwest Portland (including Chapman Elementary) in the top 2% of the nation for schools with the worst air. This same study named nearby ESCO Corp as the chief contributor of toxic emissions around Chapman.
ESCO provides jobs. As first reported in the NW Examiner, it makes generous donations to Northwest Portland's Friendly House Community Center and to Chapman School. Nonetheless, ESCO is up for a renewal of its permit in August.
On Thursday, neighbors and parents of school age children gathered in the Chapman auditorium to listen to updates from involved residents who have taken up the issue, and to hear from a panel of five DEQ employees who fielded questions from an often exasperated and restless audience.
Northwest residents and NWDA members Sharon Genasci and Mary Peveto have been relentless in their pursuit of the truth, and in their attempts to get answers from DEQ, the State's Department of Environmental Quality. Both said at Thursday's meeting that they aren't satisfied with recent responses from DEQ in light of the USA Today report. Peveto said that she has been told time and again by DEQ representatives that "industry is not the problem," and that the real problem comes from bigger sources like cars. Both women want air monitoring to resume in Northwest Portland so that a consensus can be reached. Monitoring was last done in 2006 at the post office located on NW 24th & Savier streets. Retired EPA scientist Nick Bouwes agreed that in light of the new information from the USA Today report, "a prudent and logical step would be for more monitoring."
During the Q & A session a North Portland teacher, who has lived and worked near Freightliner for years, discouraged people from lobbying DEQ or expecting any kind of action from what is essentially a reactionary organization. "They will do nothing. Nothing," he said. "Their job is to collect money for permits."
70% of the DEQ's budget does in fact come from permit fees, which amounts to a conflict of interest in many minds.
Another speaker said that he'd watched DEQ for 14 years. "They are not the place to go," he warned the audience. "Companies report their own emissions. There is no oversight. I am sorry to have to say this, I am not a cynic."
A new resident to Northwest Portland asked questions of the DEQ: "What is the threshold for concern?" he asked. "What triggers action on your part? When do you do something?"
Unfortunately, DEQ panelists relied on lengthy technical non-answers, and cited a new, broader study of Portland's general air quality planned for this summer. The most pressing and specific questions about the permit renewal were left unanswered.
Encouraging, though, was the presence of Oregon State Representative Mitch Greenlich and METRO councilman Rex Burkholder at the meeting who can hopefully bring some pressure to bear on the situation.
Concerned about air quality in Northwest Portland?
Let your elected officials know your concern:
US Senator Ron Wyden
1220 SW 3rd Avenue, Suite 585
Portland OR 97204
Andy Ginsburg
Air Quality Division Administrator
Oregon DEQ Headquarters
811 SW Sixth Avenue
Portland OR 97204
Meet with the Health and Environmental Committee, a sub-committee of the Northwest District Association (NWDA). It meets monthly, on the second Monday of each month, 7-9 pm. Call 503-823-4288 for location and more information.
You can also assist by tracking and logging air pollution incidents by using an on-line odor complaint form. Visit www.portlandair.org for more information
Excellent reporting. I attended this forum also and came away with the perspective that the neighborhood and DEQ have the same vision .... clean air... but the distrust between the two sides is preventing a unified plan to get results. It's time to redirect the conversation.
I have been breathing NW Portland air for 26 years, and have found it to be quite wholesome, especially on NW Kearney St., where I live. I have had visitors from all over the world comment on the air's breathability. My grandchildren, particularly, are very partial to the air on NW Kearney St., as I often see them smiling broadly upon their very first breath. I particularly enjoy it on the rare occasions the wind comes from the southeast and wafts the scent of roasting coffee from the coffee roasters on NW Glisan St. I used to enjoy the scent from the Weinhard brewery, also, until it shut down.
I have to laugh. So many are concerned with the percieved conflict of interest:
"70% of the DEQ's budget does in fact come from permit fees, which amounts to a conflict of interest in many minds. "
But in reality, if asked to pay for DEQ's budget with taxes or some other fee rather than permit fees from the industries that DEQ regulates, most folks would say "No way". So, how to enforce regulations, stack testing, etc with no money????