Monthly Archives: June 2018

PDF files, Pollutants

DEQ full spectrum air monitor up and running

Here is the DEQ factsheet on the Air Monitor. It is worth looking over. Thanks to Oregon DEQ for listening to the community.

DEQ has set up a full spectrum monitor between Thomas Cully Park and 205 freeway. This is good timing because Thomas Cully Park has it’s Grand Opening this Saturday, June 30th! The new park is a great accomplishment for the people of Cully who advocated for it for so long. We need to insure that the kids playing there, the families picnicking, the lovers strolling, and the flora and fauna have a healthy airshed to breathe in this new park.

The air monitor will record VOCs, as well as lead and PM.  Results should be available by the end of the year, if not sooner.

PDF files, Pollutants

PSU Ambient Metal Study for Cully released

PSU  has released their study of ambient (airborne) metal pollutants in the Cully neighborhood from testing done last summer. The good news is that lead levels are low, as are cadmium and nickel.  There are elevated arsenic levels, but we have a good bit of native arsenic in our soil environment already.

Thank you to the neighbors who so graciously housed the monitoring equipment, the student scientists at PSU, Dr. Linda George, and Neighbors for Clean Air for making this happen.

To anyone who has lived in or visited the Cully neighborhood, the strange odors are still here: sulfur compounds and diesel PM and other fuel odors.

Next Wednesday, June 27, from 6-7 pm., we will be meeting to discuss how we want to work with DEQ regarding re-permiting the  pollution releases from Owens-Brockway.  Drop me a line if you want the meeting location.

Step-by-step, the air quality is improving, but we have a ways to go.  In the meantime, please look over the attached file.

CullyPSUReport

Articles and Essays, Point Source Polluters

Oregonian highlights the problem with Owens Brockway

Image

Rob Davis of The Oregonian penned this excellent article.

Owens-Brockway Illinois, June 2018

The article is about lead and other toxic releases from the Owens-Brockway Illinois glass recycling facility near Killingsworth and 205 in the Parkrose /Cully/Sumner neighborhoods of Portland, Ore.  There are three public schools within less than one mile from the facility, and those children are at risk from the ambient lead emissions. So far, Owens-Brockway has refused to install filters or containment bags.

Owens-Brockway’s pollution permits are up for renewal this summer. CAAT will be working with Oregon DEQ to get Owens-Brockway to clean up their pollutant releases. Stay tuned!