The port of Portland in Oregon says there will be minimal disruption to the shipping industry as it begins its clean-up operation of contaminated sediment at Terminal 4.

The sediment removal is being overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and includes the dredging, capping of contaminated sediment and bank stabilisation.

This is part of a two-phased plan by the port to clean up the harbour and improve local air quality.

The cleanup plan for T-4 was approved by the EPA in 2006 and all cleanup activities are designed to be consistent with Portland Harbour-wide cleanup goals, noted the EPA.

As part of the ports environmental drive, the port introduced a rule in 2007 that requires all heavy equipment on site to use ultra-low sulphur diesel (ULSD) fuel.

"The port was the first public agency in the Portland region to utilise ultra-low sulphur diesel fuel. Vehicles and yard equipment at the port’s marine terminals are powered by this alternative fuel which produces less sulphur dioxide (SO2) and fine particulate matter (PM) emissions than conventional diesel. The port also utilises biodiesel and even helps in its production by collecting used fryer fat from PDX restaurants to transfer to a local producer," a port report revealed.

"They have gone above-and-beyond," said EPA’s Project Manager Sean Sheldrake.

"The Port has committed to protecting local air quality throughout their facility, but it’s really encouraging to see that same commitment extended to reducing impacts at a sediment remediation project. This sets a new standard for future cleanup actions in the Portland harbour," Sheldrake added.

The cleanup work will remove contaminants resulting from over a hundred years of marine and other activities in the region. The primary contaminants of concern at the terminal are reported to be petroleum, metals, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

This first phase of the clean-up process is expected to last approximately five weeks. To help minimise the environmental effects, the dredging and capping work will take place when fish are least likely to be migrating through the Willamette River. Special fish diversion mesh will also be used to discourage fish from entering the work area.

Disruption to business at the busy terminal 4 is also of key concern, and in-water work has also been designed to minimise the impact.

The second phase of the project is scheduled to take place in 2009.