PFAs -- "forever chemicals"-- detected in city water supply
By Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service
In an unfortunate finding for Independence, the city is one of only a handful of 143 water systems tested in Oregon that’s been found to have potentially harmful contaminants known as PFAs, though the levels don’t exceed the state’s health advisory limits – so far.
That could change. This spring, the Environmental Protection Agency passed suggested limits for a cluster of PFAs, more formally known as per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, which have been commonly used in products ranging from stick-proof frying pans to rain-resistant hiking gear.
The data on PFAs within the state comes mainly from two agencies: The Oregon Health Authority, which has concluded there’s evidence that exposure to certain PFAs can lead to ill effects on human health; And the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, which is keeping track of them as part of the DEQ’s Toxics Reduction Program.
Despite multiple attempts to receive answers to questions about Independence-linked PFAs – including whether the testing results had been discussed by the city's Public Works Department – no response was received from the city’s communications director, Emmanuel Goicochea.
However, Monica Amarelo, vice president for media relations at the Environmental Working Group, more widely known as EWG, confirmed that this means water treatment plants will need to update their filtration systems.
Independence is currently making plans to build a new water-treatment facility – one that it may share with Monmouth, under an intergovernmental agreement.
However, Independence’s proposed treatment facility appears to be stalled – there has been continuing litigation over the city’s attempt to acquire property south of town through
eminent domain.
The most recent water-quality report from Independence advises that “as water travels over the land or underground, it can pick up substances or contaminants such as microbes, inorganic and organic chemicals.”
Water systems will have three years to meet the new limits, according to EWG’s Amarelo, who added that “all states need to meet the new federal regulation for PFAs in drinking water.“
The EWG, a national nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, has been at the forefront of research on PFAs. In 2019, Tasha Stoiber PhD, senior scientist at EWG, gave a presentation on the topic for a webinar by The Endocrine Society, an international group of research scientists.
Noting that the chemicals have been studied for more than two decades, Stoiber pointed out that “PFAs have been moving into the spotlight recently.” Health effects have become associated with these “forever chemicals,” particularly the possible impact on the human immune system, which is believed to be “a sensitive target” for them.
However, it is “very early” in the process of gaining a full understanding of this family of chemicals, cautioned Todd Jarvis PhD, a local groundwater hydrologist who has decades of professional experience both in the field and in academics.
“There’s still a lot to learn,” he said. Along with advances in the science on these “emerging contaminants” there’s likely to be progress in mitigation, too, he observed. For example, even home-installed water filters with reverse osmosis capability are showing promise for removing PFAs.
Oregon is one of a dozen states that’s already adopted plans to establish guidance for measuring and reporting PFAs.
The move for the EPA’s proposed drinking-water standards for these “forever chemicals” is fully supported by the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators. “It’s a step in the right direction to provide national consistency for assessing and addressing PFAs in drinking water,” the association affirmed in a recent statement. ▪
By Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service
In an unfortunate finding for Independence, the city is one of only a handful of 143 water systems tested in Oregon that’s been found to have potentially harmful contaminants known as PFAs, though the levels don’t exceed the state’s health advisory limits – so far.
That could change. This spring, the Environmental Protection Agency passed suggested limits for a cluster of PFAs, more formally known as per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, which have been commonly used in products ranging from stick-proof frying pans to rain-resistant hiking gear.
The data on PFAs within the state comes mainly from two agencies: The Oregon Health Authority, which has concluded there’s evidence that exposure to certain PFAs can lead to ill effects on human health; And the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, which is keeping track of them as part of the DEQ’s Toxics Reduction Program.
Despite multiple attempts to receive answers to questions about Independence-linked PFAs – including whether the testing results had been discussed by the city's Public Works Department – no response was received from the city’s communications director, Emmanuel Goicochea.
However, Monica Amarelo, vice president for media relations at the Environmental Working Group, more widely known as EWG, confirmed that this means water treatment plants will need to update their filtration systems.
Independence is currently making plans to build a new water-treatment facility – one that it may share with Monmouth, under an intergovernmental agreement.
However, Independence’s proposed treatment facility appears to be stalled – there has been continuing litigation over the city’s attempt to acquire property south of town through
eminent domain.
The most recent water-quality report from Independence advises that “as water travels over the land or underground, it can pick up substances or contaminants such as microbes, inorganic and organic chemicals.”
Water systems will have three years to meet the new limits, according to EWG’s Amarelo, who added that “all states need to meet the new federal regulation for PFAs in drinking water.“
The EWG, a national nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, has been at the forefront of research on PFAs. In 2019, Tasha Stoiber PhD, senior scientist at EWG, gave a presentation on the topic for a webinar by The Endocrine Society, an international group of research scientists.
Noting that the chemicals have been studied for more than two decades, Stoiber pointed out that “PFAs have been moving into the spotlight recently.” Health effects have become associated with these “forever chemicals,” particularly the possible impact on the human immune system, which is believed to be “a sensitive target” for them.
However, it is “very early” in the process of gaining a full understanding of this family of chemicals, cautioned Todd Jarvis PhD, a local groundwater hydrologist who has decades of professional experience both in the field and in academics.
“There’s still a lot to learn,” he said. Along with advances in the science on these “emerging contaminants” there’s likely to be progress in mitigation, too, he observed. For example, even home-installed water filters with reverse osmosis capability are showing promise for removing PFAs.
Oregon is one of a dozen states that’s already adopted plans to establish guidance for measuring and reporting PFAs.
The move for the EPA’s proposed drinking-water standards for these “forever chemicals” is fully supported by the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators. “It’s a step in the right direction to provide national consistency for assessing and addressing PFAs in drinking water,” the association affirmed in a recent statement. ▪
Learning disruptions a worry in district schools
By Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service
Since the school year started this fall in Independence, student conflicts – hurled insults and other bullying tactics – have disrupted school corridors and some classroom instruction. But a recent incident at Talmadge Middle School shows how seriously the learning environment can be impacted by aggressive behavior.
Though accounts differ depending on who is describing the event, two students apparently dominated an entire class until police arrived.
A statement issued by the district office acknowledged that a school resource officer was needed to restore order and noted that no weapons were involved.
”Student safety and security has been maintained throughout the day and we again appreciate the partnership with our public safety partners,” according to the news release provided by Emily Mentzer, the district’s communications coordinator.
CSD seems to be having a tough time rebounding from what some parents call “the lost years,” a reference to the period in which schools shut down and switched to remote learning. Follow-up visits with parents and teachers indicate a lingering post-covid impact on schools – one that apparently is being seen throughout Oregon.
From a meeting of Portland city employees at the Oregon Convention Center who were queried during a break in the session to customers at local farmers’ markets and coffee shops on a busy Saturday downtown in Independence, school conflict and apathy is viewed as a problem that’s persisting – and likely to be caused by a combination of factors.
An examination of the various opinions, along with a snapshot look at state and national data, suggests that CSD is no different than many other Oregon school districts, with some notable exceptions. As one CSD teacher observed, the district has the most youth care centers, often referred to as “group homes,” per capita in the state.
And although the emotional strain on students from the pressure of social media and the inability to regain a sense of school community that disappeared in covid has been widely reported, Independence also differs as a distinctly “purple” town, in terms of political parties.
It’s a growing divide that has seeped into the school population as some families have become more entrenched in extreme partisan politics, according to some parents and teachers.
Has a loss of civility in some grown-ups trickled down? During last year’s Central High School graduation, an argument between attending adults broke out in the school parking lot – and a gun was pulled, though no shots were fired, according to the Independence Police report on
the issue.
The district also continues to struggle to get more students back for full days of instruction, according to results shared at recent CSD board meetings. However, student absenteeism is a severe problem statewide. “Attendance is a serious challenge for Oregon, as it is with other states,” according to this year’s report from Oregon’s Quality Education Commission.
Within the state, there’s also been a shift in offenses committed by juveniles 10 to 14, according to a report by Oregon’s Juvenile Justice Information System. Incidents in these younger teens increased nearly 9% in 2022 compared with pre-covid years; The numbers went the opposite direction for youths aged 15 to 17, which were roughly 23% lower in 2022 than in 2016. As one Independence Police Officer put it, apparently referring to more transgressing in the younger cohort: “Some kids just don’t seem to have coping skills.”
As CSD moves into 2025, Oregon schools seem stuck academically at the bottom of the pack nationally in post-pandemic recovery. Meanwhile both West Coast neighboring states – Washington and California – are faring much better, according to a large national study involving several universities, called “The Education Recovery Scorecard.” ▪
By Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service
Since the school year started this fall in Independence, student conflicts – hurled insults and other bullying tactics – have disrupted school corridors and some classroom instruction. But a recent incident at Talmadge Middle School shows how seriously the learning environment can be impacted by aggressive behavior.
Though accounts differ depending on who is describing the event, two students apparently dominated an entire class until police arrived.
A statement issued by the district office acknowledged that a school resource officer was needed to restore order and noted that no weapons were involved.
”Student safety and security has been maintained throughout the day and we again appreciate the partnership with our public safety partners,” according to the news release provided by Emily Mentzer, the district’s communications coordinator.
CSD seems to be having a tough time rebounding from what some parents call “the lost years,” a reference to the period in which schools shut down and switched to remote learning. Follow-up visits with parents and teachers indicate a lingering post-covid impact on schools – one that apparently is being seen throughout Oregon.
From a meeting of Portland city employees at the Oregon Convention Center who were queried during a break in the session to customers at local farmers’ markets and coffee shops on a busy Saturday downtown in Independence, school conflict and apathy is viewed as a problem that’s persisting – and likely to be caused by a combination of factors.
An examination of the various opinions, along with a snapshot look at state and national data, suggests that CSD is no different than many other Oregon school districts, with some notable exceptions. As one CSD teacher observed, the district has the most youth care centers, often referred to as “group homes,” per capita in the state.
And although the emotional strain on students from the pressure of social media and the inability to regain a sense of school community that disappeared in covid has been widely reported, Independence also differs as a distinctly “purple” town, in terms of political parties.
It’s a growing divide that has seeped into the school population as some families have become more entrenched in extreme partisan politics, according to some parents and teachers.
Has a loss of civility in some grown-ups trickled down? During last year’s Central High School graduation, an argument between attending adults broke out in the school parking lot – and a gun was pulled, though no shots were fired, according to the Independence Police report on
the issue.
The district also continues to struggle to get more students back for full days of instruction, according to results shared at recent CSD board meetings. However, student absenteeism is a severe problem statewide. “Attendance is a serious challenge for Oregon, as it is with other states,” according to this year’s report from Oregon’s Quality Education Commission.
Within the state, there’s also been a shift in offenses committed by juveniles 10 to 14, according to a report by Oregon’s Juvenile Justice Information System. Incidents in these younger teens increased nearly 9% in 2022 compared with pre-covid years; The numbers went the opposite direction for youths aged 15 to 17, which were roughly 23% lower in 2022 than in 2016. As one Independence Police Officer put it, apparently referring to more transgressing in the younger cohort: “Some kids just don’t seem to have coping skills.”
As CSD moves into 2025, Oregon schools seem stuck academically at the bottom of the pack nationally in post-pandemic recovery. Meanwhile both West Coast neighboring states – Washington and California – are faring much better, according to a large national study involving several universities, called “The Education Recovery Scorecard.” ▪
Beer consumption down, beer prices up
By Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service
Who took today’s hops out of the hops capital of yesteryear? Draft and craft brews seem to have taken a nosedive in Independence, and blame has been pinned on factors ranging from tighter pocketbooks to filament-growing fungi.
On the same day that the proprietor of Brew Coffee & Tap House, Mitch Teal, explained that the price of kegs has increased in past months by double-digit percentages, customer Rich Graham lamented that the observation has led to some obvious cutbacks on consumption for meetups and gatherings.
“The price of beer has gone up, and particularly in restaurants, taverns and pubs,” Graham said.
This much is known: Sales of the hops-containing brew plummeted a few months after the new year, according to the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission. Beer sales are down by nearly 30% since before the pandemic, according to figures listed by the Oregon Beverage Alliance.
Add to that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has reported a steady downward trend in the acres planted in hop vines over the past several years in the USDA’s area classified as “Willamette,” which includes Polk County.
Two months ago, Brewer Magazine, which covers the hop industry, weighed in with the prediction that the trend will continue in a downward cycle. “Next week, many of Oregon’s hop farmers will begin harvest but less was planted this year because of declining craft beer sales,” according to the publication.
Hops also require protection for myriad diseases. The most recent one mentioned as a pest that could be impacting the plant is a shift in disease threat. “Powdery mildew is no longer the forefront research concern as it is well managed in the Pacific Northwest overall,” according to an advisory from Oregon State University’s extension service.
But a filament-sprouting fungus, Fusarium canker, has surfaced as a risk for hops. However, the lead researcher on the fungus, Professor Cynthia Ocamb, said she’s dubious that the organism is having a big impact.
“In the big picture, I doubt that the Fusarium canker in hop is a major contributor to the rise in prices of hop harvests,” said OCamb, who studies plant pathology.
Instead, she suggested that labor costs and inflation could be taking a toll – an opinion also voiced by Craig Pope, a Polk County farmer and chair of the county’s’ board of commissioners.
“It is a real combination of factors,” he said. “I don’t see that changing.” Pope, who has been active in agricultural issues for many years, currently serves as chair of the Oregon State Weed Board, which examines and oversees state interests in noxious weed control across the state.
Pope, along with the two other county commissioners, has supported OSU’s North Willamette Research and Extension Center in Aurora – this year the board allocated $20,000 to the agricultural research facility. Pope noted that Polk County appears to be contributing more than its fair share when compared with other counties, such as Multnomah.
At a recent Chemeketa’s farm family dinner night, several attendees singled out Pope as a regional champion of agriculture. However, like the commissioner, they forecast the hop decline may persist or plateau, not return to pre-pandemic levels.
A few years ago, shortly before he died, local author and lawyer Scott McArthur published an essay on Independence and hops, observing that the history of the leafy plant and the riverside city went hand-in-hand. He ended it on an optimistic note. “The growth of boutique breweries has seen an increase in the demand for hops and an expansion of hop fields in the Willamette Valley in recent years,” McArthur wrote. ▪
By Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service
Who took today’s hops out of the hops capital of yesteryear? Draft and craft brews seem to have taken a nosedive in Independence, and blame has been pinned on factors ranging from tighter pocketbooks to filament-growing fungi.
On the same day that the proprietor of Brew Coffee & Tap House, Mitch Teal, explained that the price of kegs has increased in past months by double-digit percentages, customer Rich Graham lamented that the observation has led to some obvious cutbacks on consumption for meetups and gatherings.
“The price of beer has gone up, and particularly in restaurants, taverns and pubs,” Graham said.
This much is known: Sales of the hops-containing brew plummeted a few months after the new year, according to the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission. Beer sales are down by nearly 30% since before the pandemic, according to figures listed by the Oregon Beverage Alliance.
Add to that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has reported a steady downward trend in the acres planted in hop vines over the past several years in the USDA’s area classified as “Willamette,” which includes Polk County.
Two months ago, Brewer Magazine, which covers the hop industry, weighed in with the prediction that the trend will continue in a downward cycle. “Next week, many of Oregon’s hop farmers will begin harvest but less was planted this year because of declining craft beer sales,” according to the publication.
Hops also require protection for myriad diseases. The most recent one mentioned as a pest that could be impacting the plant is a shift in disease threat. “Powdery mildew is no longer the forefront research concern as it is well managed in the Pacific Northwest overall,” according to an advisory from Oregon State University’s extension service.
But a filament-sprouting fungus, Fusarium canker, has surfaced as a risk for hops. However, the lead researcher on the fungus, Professor Cynthia Ocamb, said she’s dubious that the organism is having a big impact.
“In the big picture, I doubt that the Fusarium canker in hop is a major contributor to the rise in prices of hop harvests,” said OCamb, who studies plant pathology.
Instead, she suggested that labor costs and inflation could be taking a toll – an opinion also voiced by Craig Pope, a Polk County farmer and chair of the county’s’ board of commissioners.
“It is a real combination of factors,” he said. “I don’t see that changing.” Pope, who has been active in agricultural issues for many years, currently serves as chair of the Oregon State Weed Board, which examines and oversees state interests in noxious weed control across the state.
Pope, along with the two other county commissioners, has supported OSU’s North Willamette Research and Extension Center in Aurora – this year the board allocated $20,000 to the agricultural research facility. Pope noted that Polk County appears to be contributing more than its fair share when compared with other counties, such as Multnomah.
At a recent Chemeketa’s farm family dinner night, several attendees singled out Pope as a regional champion of agriculture. However, like the commissioner, they forecast the hop decline may persist or plateau, not return to pre-pandemic levels.
A few years ago, shortly before he died, local author and lawyer Scott McArthur published an essay on Independence and hops, observing that the history of the leafy plant and the riverside city went hand-in-hand. He ended it on an optimistic note. “The growth of boutique breweries has seen an increase in the demand for hops and an expansion of hop fields in the Willamette Valley in recent years,” McArthur wrote. ▪
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