Clapper, Patti, Schweizer and Mason

Sunriver is a privately owned resort community in Deschutes County, Oregon covering 3,300 acres that was formerly the site of Camp Abbot, a World War II training camp.  Sunriver property owners would like to build an aquatic, sledding and theater complex on part of the land that was found to be contaminated with asbestos.  Their proposal is to cap the now contained soil with new soil, concrete or asphalt.

“Capping” asbestos, versus removal, is one way that the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved redevelopment on land that has soil contaminated with asbestos.  This method is approved as a safe way to prevent any exposure to the toxic mineral as asbestos is only a threat if it becomes airborne and can be inhaled or ingested.  When taken into the body, asbestos can cause mesothelioma, asbestosis or lung cancer and all exposure should be avoided.  Asbestos is only a risk if inhaled or ingested and cannot be absorbed through the skin. 

Any remedial actions taken at Sunriver must protect the environment and public, both short and long term.  Encapsulation, when done according to safety standards and control, including protection of site personnel who are involved in the redesign, can protect from exposure to asbestos.  Previous soil and air quality samples have identified the locations of asbestos contamination that would need to be capped.  They also show that current conditions are safe for the owners and visitors using the area now.

The Oregon DEQ announced this week that they plan to approve encapsulation and have determined that this method meets environmental safety regulations, as long as the process is monitored.  Homeowners have filed a lawsuit against the federal government and previous Sunriver Property owners in hopes to have all or some of the costs of remediation covered.  They estimated cost of removal could be over 3 million.  Public comment will be taken on September 1, at 5p.m., and further information and inquiries can be found at the DEQ Bend, Oregon office.

Sunriver is located on the grounds of Camp Abbot, a World War II training facility designed to train combat engineers in a simulated combat environment. The U.S. Army camp opened in 1942, but by June 1944, the camp was abandoned and most of the settlement was razed.^[2]

The Officers' Club was spared and has been preserved and renovated and is now known as the "Great Hall," under management of Sunriver Resort. The name Sunriver was selected by developers John Gray and Donald V. McCallum. Condominiums were built in 1968 in conjunction with the completion of Sunriver Lodge, and in 1969, the master plan was completed and developers began selling lots.^[