Related News
Related News
-
EWEB programs reflect community values
EWEB is here to serve our customer-owners and provides programs that reflect the values of our community.
Find Out More -
Where is EWEB in planning our future electricity supply?
In August, we reached a milestone: EWEB’s five-member elected Board of Commissioners approved an action plan to guide our energy supply choices for the next 2-3 years. How did we get here?
Find Out More -
Planning for a Future of Reliable, Affordable, Environmentally Responsible Energy
The challenges revealed by Eugene Water & Electric Board’s integrated resource planning process mirror those facing the Northwest.
Find Out More -
EWEB’s heat driven call to conserve energy yields major savings
EWEB is likely to implement similar, formalized “demand response” programs in the future.
Find Out More -
Planning for a Reliable, Affordable, Green Energy Future
EWEB General Manager Frank Lawson publishes an op-ed in the Eugene Weekly about EWEB's IRP.
Find Out More -
Substations – The resilient spine of EWEB’s electric system
The substation redundancy ensures reliable power continues to flow to homes and businesses despite unexpected equipment failures and routine maintenance.
Find Out More -
EWEB charts energy supply choices for next 2-3 years
After 18 months of study to assess Eugene’s future electricity needs, EWEB has identified next steps to pursue in the next two to three years.
Find Out More -
June 2021 Heat Dome broke records for temperature – but not energy use, EWEB analysis finds
The extreme temperatures from two years ago show the need for EWEB to choose energy sources based on best fit.
Find Out More -
Hydrogen’s decarbonization potential discussed at EWEB Board meeting
The simplest, lightest, most abundant element in the universe – hydrogen – could play a key role in decarbonizing society, EWEB's Board learned at recent meeting.
Find Out More -
EWEB could need additional low-carbon, on-demand electricity, new analysis shows
Quickly rising electricity demand could require EWEB to acquire zero-carbon firm resources such as biomass or nuclear plants.
Find Out More -
Electric vehicles benefit customers and the community
The rising cost of gasoline and growing consequences of climate change are driving more and more people to look for alternatives to gas-powered vehicles. And EVs offer benefits that go beyond the gas pump.
Find Out More -
EWEB preparing for expected surge in electric vehicles
Electric vehicle (EV) sales are poised to skyrocket in the years ahead as technology improves, more models hit the market, prices fall and regulations limit the sale of gas-powered vehicles. And EWEB is preparing for this surge.
Find Out More -
EWEB programs make electric mobility more accessible
Electric mobility seems to be everywhere these days, but does availability equal accessibility? Here at EWEB we’ve determined that the answer is ‘no’ and are working to bridge that gap through EV car shares, community grants and electric bike rebates.
Find Out More -
Lead Green annual summary
In Eugene, we take pride in knowing we have one of the cleanest power portfolios in the nation. Roughly 90% of Eugene's power comes from carbon-free hydroelectric energy. And EWEB has a long history offering robust conversation programs. But we wanted to do more, so we launched Lead Green, a suite of programs for climate innovators looking to support renewable energy and take action on climate change. In the year since Lead Green was launched, we've accomplished a lot we can be proud of.
Find Out More -
EWEB Education Programs Invest in Eugene’s Future
Learn some of the many ways EWEB customers support local schools and help inspire kids to explore the wonders of watershed health and clean energy resources.
Find Out More - Show More
EWEB Starts Clean-up of Old Gas Plant Waste
August 30, 2019
Starting in mid-September, an EWEB contractor will begin an environmental clean-up project at the site of a former manufactured gas plant (MGP) located at 701 E. Eighth Ave., near the old steam plant building.
The contractor will excavate contaminated soil, dispose of it at the hazardous waste landfill in Arlington, Ore., then backfill the excavated areas before placing an asphalt cap on top.
Although MGP waste at the anticipated concentrations is not harmful, it does emit an unpleasant odor. These MGP odors are more of a nuisance than a health concern.
EWEB will take active site management steps to limit air releases to safe levels. Ongoing air monitoring will take place to verify safe air conditions at the work site and in neighboring areas.
In addition to the remediation project, a riverbank restoration contractor will plant native vegetation along a section of the Willamette River and place river rock to stabilize areas where erosion is a concern. The clean-up is funded through a partnership between EWEB, Cascade Natural Gas and PacifiCorp.
During the clean-up project, the South Bank Path between the DeFazio and Frohnmayer bridges will be closed, as will access to the path from East Eighth Avenue and Hilyard Street. Both bridges will remain open during the project. People should detour through Alton Baker Park during the closure. Work is expected to be completed by the end of October.
Site history
Between 1907 and 1950, this site was utilized for the manufacture of coal gas, which was used by the residents and businesses of Eugene for light and heat. After 1950, the site was converted for the storage of propane-air gas. By the time propane-air gas operations ceased, all remaining aboveground structures except the main brick building had been removed. EWEB purchased the property in 1976, by which time it was largely paved and fenced with a locked gate. Byproducts of the manufactured gas process remain buried at the site.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has identified three distinct areas contaminated with MGP waste. This project will remove the more mobile MGP wastes to reduce the risk of release of contamination to the Willamette River. To view a DEQ fact sheet on this project, click here.
After the clean-up is complete, the City of Eugene plans to construct an intersection on top of the asphalt cap to provide access to the Downtown Riverfront development.
About the clean-up
The MGP waste is known to contain naphthalene and benzene. Naphthalene has a distinct odor, somewhat like mothballs or driveway sealer. You can smell it at very low concentrations that are not harmful to health. Benzene is a common petrochemical and is known to be harmful at concentrations that are much higher than what is expected to occur during this remediation project.
EWEB is providing multiple layers of air monitoring for benzene, including handheld and static monitors in the project area. We will also patrol nearby neighborhoods to evaluate non-harmful nuisance odors. This multifaceted approach will allow us to assess air conditions on a real-time basis to limit impacts on nearby residents and businesses, and to ensure that vapor management strategies are effectively employed.
To ensure safety and reduce the amount of vapors that can be released to the air, EWEB is requiring the contractor to limit the size of open excavation, minimize contaminated soil stockpiling, cover contaminated soil with impervious plastic covers, and deploy odor-controlling foam over exposed soils. If needed, we may also direct the contractor to perform MGP waste removal during the cooler morning hours and perform work with less potential to impact air quality during the heat of the day.
If at any time the local air quality is not satisfactory, MGP excavation work will shut down while we assess weather forecasts and alternate odor management strategies. Please contact EWEB if your home or business is impacted by strong odors so we can implement alternative management strategies. While no process is perfect, we will use methods that are well-established by the remediation industry to limit odor impacts on our neighbors.
More information:
Answers to additional questions
Contact information:
Jared Rubin, EWEB Environmental Specialist, 541-685-7609
Joe Harwood, EWEB Communications, 541-685-7471
Don Hanson, DEQ Project Manager, 541-687-7349