NATURALLY OCCURRING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS IN OREGON

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) are currently teaming on research to characterize the presence of Naturally Occurring Hazardous Materials (NOHM) in Oregon. NOHM’s in Oregon include: asbestos, trace essential and non-essential elements such as arsenic, mercury, other metals, and radioactive minerals. This study employs currently available geologic and geochemical spatial databases at DOGAMI along with published/unpublished information to locate NOHM sites or infer their presence in geologic units. With computer-aided mapping, it is anticipated that implementation of the research findings will provide the necessary information so ODOT personnel can determine 1) where NOHMs are located in the state and their relationship to state highway right-of-way including material sources, staging areas, disposal sites, and stockpile sites, and 2) what are the NOHMs that could pose environmental and health concerns related to ODOT’s geologic investigations and environmental assessment of projects and its potential pollution liability.