Linda Duggan said she learned during conversations after the community meeting that J.H. Baxter-area homebuyers are not being told about the contamination.
Presenter: Our community reporter at the J.H. Baxter meeting July 16 is a retired Bethel teacher. For those who aren’t familiar with the J.H. Baxter saga, we asked why there’s a Superfund site in a Eugene neighborhood. Linda Duggan:
Linda Duggan (Retired Bethel teacher): I guess just some history with J.H. Baxter is that they treated wood with toxic chemicals, from what I understand, for the railroad. The chemicals they used were creosote, arsenic, and copper. They’re all toxic.
[00:00:36] So in 2008, DEQ started inspections. Baxter stopped production in 2022 and the site was full of chemicals, more than 65 tanks of chemicals. So anyway, DEQ got involved and then also LRAPA, EPA, OHA, and the Active Bethel Community and Beyond Toxics…