This is a huge crane which is sitting on a barge which you can totally climb on, if you wanted. Pica wouldn't let me.
My mom's assertion that this, and not the place a half a mile down the way, is a super fund site was bolstered by a conversation I had with some folks driving around yesterday morning in reflective safety vests. I flagged them down -- for some reason, they really didn't want to stop, and I think it may be because I look wierder than I think in Chris's old photography vest and stuff -- anyway, I asked them who was working on the site and they said "lots of people" so I asked whose job it was and they said "DEQ." they weren't very informational.
Did I mention how cross I was when the construction site security guards kicked me out of my usual stomping grounds? (which included a little stretch of beach).
So -- off to the internet. The Oregon DEQ has a little press release that seems like it might be referring to our beloved Picaville.
Ah ha! McCormick & Baxter! Those bastards. Here's some more DEQ info on the DEQ site. There's a really cool document there with 52 pages of photos, but I don't recommend downloading it unless you have a fast connection or a real love of superfund site picture or Picaville. It's very cool seeing some of the historic photos of the place.
These pictures confirm for me that the ACTUAL superfund site is about 1/2 mile to the west of where we hang out, so I don't know what the DEQ construction is doing -- but maybe it's more of a staging area for them.
Here's a story indicating they lost funding for this for awhile.
Here's some more information about funding cleanup, and some info. on what they plan to do with the place when it's cleaned up.
And here's a little history of the site.
You know I love superfund sites, and I think it's a lot more interesting to have this kind of stuff to think about and investigate than just some boring birds. Because here you get all this stuff AND birds. Still, having said that, all this talk of heavy metals and stuff is giving me pause. Maybe when Pica's over her heat I'll take her to some real parks.
I want to do a whole blog entry on the Machine in the Garden some day, but I've got a lot of work to do so I'll start and stop with this.
Update! Their press person called me back (I called the number on the press release) and confirmed that the work I see is, indeed, the McCormick & Baxter site. I hope old McCormick and Baxter are rotting in creasote soaked graves! Although I guess if they were in creosote soaked graves they wouldn't rot. What IS it iwth creosote? why did people love it so much and want so much of it in their lives?
I also told their press lady that they should have some kind of sign on the construction site telling neighbors what's going on. We'll see.