(From http://www.portlandonline.com/river/index.cfm?a=276051&c=39767)
A group of tribes and state and federal agencies have released a draft plan for how they will assess damage caused to natural resources in the Portland Harbor by the past release of hazardous substances.
 
Comments on the plan are due on January 15, 2010.
 
A Public Meeting to discuss the NRDA Assessment Plan will be held:
  Thursday, December 10, 2009
  5:00 p.m.
  St. Johns Community Center
  8427 N. Central St., Portland, Oregon
 
The plan may be viewed or downloaded by clicking here.
 
Portland Harbor was named a Superfund site by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2000. The Superfund study area extends from river mile 1 (between the Multnomah Channel and Columbia River) to river mile 11.8 (near the Broadway Bridge). 
 
Many agencies and groups are working to clean-up contamination in the Portland Harbor.  However, cleanup alone may not fully restore damaged natural resources or address the public’s lost use of the resources. The draft plan identifies potential restoration sites in Portland Harbor and proposes ranking criteria to evaluate a site's ability to address natural resource impacts.
 
The plan is part of the federal Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) process, where existing information is reviewed and studies conducted to identify the extent of impacts (injuries) to natural resources, the best methods for restoring those resources, and the amount of restoration required.
 
More information is available from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service -- click here.