I am greatly heartened to hear the news about the listing of Bradford Island and surrounding waters of the Columbia River as a Superfund cleanup site. It’s a hard-fought victory that is long overdue.
While we should celebrate this momentous occasion, it is important that everyone stay engaged. Just because the site is listed, doesn’t mean it’s being cleaned up yet. There is still a lot of work to do.
The sad reality of contamination of the land, waters, and fish near Bradford Island is the result of our government — specifically the United States Army Corps of Engineers — dumping toxic waste in this area for decades, and then failing to follow through with proper cleanup. Not every Superfund listing results in timely cleanup. We need to create the pressure that will push this momentum forward. Let’s make sure it finally happens.
We will have an opportunity to make that push, on Oct. 19, by participating in a community forum hosted by the Army Corps. It will be held virtually and in-person at 6:30 p.m. at the Cascade Locks City Council Chambers. Let’s show up to learn more and show how important a thorough cleanup of Bradford Island Superfund site is to us.
