Living near or on the Columbia River in North Portland means being a neighbor to American Petroleum Environment Services (APES) (once called Clear Lube, now owned by EcoLube) and Oil Re-Refining Company (ORRCO). These are oil re-refineries that take used oil and process it for industrial use. This used oil contains a wide variety of chemicals from the machines in which it was used. These re-refineries evaporate and distill this tainted oil causing hazardous waste to be released to the air. The air pollution from this, and the contaminated fuel they burn, is severe. All of North Portland and parts of Vancouver, WA are affected, depending on which way the wind is blowing.
Over 300 hazardous agents, collectively known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), are known to be among the emissions from petroleum re-refining companies. Some of the PAHs from APES and ORRCO are being monitored by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) including benzene, dioxane, naphthalene, chloroform, and sulfur dioxide. So far there has been a lack of sustained and detailed measurements by DEQ of these emissions, a health threat they have long known about.
We expect the oil re-refineries to use best available emission control devices as well as a clean source of fuel such as natural gas. Please review the following reports, fact sheets, and videos to learn about APES and ORRCO as well as other sources of air pollution in the region.
Media Reports
Investigative Reports
- January 9, 2018
City Inspections of Oil Recyclers Reveal Shaky History
- March 8, 2017:
Portland Tribune: North Portland Fumes at DEQ
- March 7, 2017:
Portland Tribune: The big stink on Hayden Island
with Infrared Video and a detailed investigative report.
Televised Reports
- March 7, 2017:
KOIN: DEQ works to curb long-standing N Portland odor
- March 7, 2017:
KGW: Neighbors tired of smell on Hayden Island
