Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Zidell Companies?
The Zidell Companies are family-owned businesses that include Zidell Marine, Tube Forgings of America, and ZRZ Realty Company.  Sam Zidell started selling industrial equipment in 1915.  The business later evolved into steel recycling, ship dismantling, barge building, industrial valves and pipe fittings.  Sam’s son Emery Zidell ran the company for many years, and his grandson Jay Zidell is now President of the Zidell Companies.  Zidell employs more than 200 people in the Pacific Northwest.

What’s the history of this site?
Portland’s waterfront has long been home to a variety of heavy industrial activity.  Beginning in the early 20th century, Commercial Iron Works occupied this property, which ultimately became a shipyard.  During World War II, Commercial Iron Works built and delivered nearly 200 ships to the US Navy from this site.  Zidell purchased the site in 1946 and began its ship dismantling operation there.  Zidell transitioned its focus to building steel barges, including double-hull tankers, in the 1960s and has built more than 300 since then.   

What’s the source of the contamination being remediated by Zidell?
There are many potential historical sources of contamination on the site and in the river, including industrial activities on the site such as the 30 years of Commercial Iron Works ship building, Zidell’s ship dismantling, scrap business, and barge building..  Some contamination could come from other sources along the river, such as pesticide production, metal salvage operations, and other activities on the adjoining properties.  In addition, the City of Portland and Oregon Department of Transportation have large storm sewer outfalls located on or near the property, including one built in 1892.

What kind of pollution is in the area being cleaned up by Zidell?
Studies have found the presence of metals, petroleum hydrocarbons and associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), tributyltin and its degradation products, and asbestos in contaminated soil and sediment at the site.

Who is responsible for cleaning up the site?
Zidell has accepted responsibility for cleaning up, or remediating the site.  In 1995, Zidell entered into the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s Voluntary Cleanup Program.  The company's consultant team has collected and analyzed  hundreds of samples of  soil from the uplands and riverbank, sediment from the river bottom, and groundwater and river water.  Zidell worked closely with DEQ to develop a remediation plan, which resulted in a 2005 Record of Decision (ROD) and 2006 Consent Judgment, in which Zidell and the State of Oregon reached an agreement to protect public health and the environment by implementation of remedial measures.  A timeline for the process is located here.

Who has regulatory authority over the cleanup?
A number of local, state and federal agencies hold some regulatory responsibility.  The 2006 Consent Judgment is between Zidell and the State of Oregon, with DEQ in the lead regulatory role.  In addition, because the remediation affects an area of riverbank and river bottom that is public land (State of Oregon)  the Oregon Department of State Lands has some regulatory authority under the Oregon Removal/Fill Law.  Most of the riverbank and the Willamette River are “waters of the United States” and activities in this area are regulated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under the federal Clean Water Act.  Additionally at the federal level, the project must be reviewed by NOAA Fisheries under authority of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), because of ESA-listed fish in the river, and theMagnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.  Zidell has submitted a Joint Permit Application to both the Department of State Lands and the Army Corps of Engineers.  Finally, this property sits within the boundaries of the City of Portland’s South Waterfront Greenway zone, so city agencies will have some review authority of  activities proposed in the remediation.

Will the Zidell project protect fish and wildlife and their habitats?
Yes.  The Zidell remediation project is based on protecting human health and the environment. The contaminants present in soil and river sediments, which are habitat for a variety of fish and wildlife species, pose risks to fish and wildlife because of potentially toxic effects. The remedial actions required and approved by Oregon DEQ will remove and/or isolate these toxic substances from the environment, and leave clean site soils and river sediments in areas of existing and future habitat for wildlife and fish.  The project will also remove non-native and invasive plants, and plant thousands of native trees, shrubs and groundcover plants to improve wildlife and fish habitat.

Does Zidell plan to continue its barge building operation at this site?
Yes.  Zidell has orders for new barges that extend through 2012.  After that, a number of factors, including market conditions, will impact whether barge building continues.