The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality welcomes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to add the J.H. Baxter site in west Eugene to the Superfund National Priorities List.

“We thank EPA for securing the resources needed to further address the risks to public health and the environment in Eugene created by dioxins from J.H. Baxter,” said DEQ Director Leah Feldon. “The next steps will be comprehensive and time consuming, which is why it was critical for EPA to add this cleanup project to the Superfund NPL.”

EPA is leading the cleanup of the J.H. Baxter site and will work to determine the full extent and scope of contamination. In 2024, DEQ completed cleanup of seven residential yards near the facility in a portion of Eugene’s Bethel neighborhood.

Work on JH Baxter has been an ongoing effort supported by EPA, DEQ, OHA other state and local agencies, and — importantly — the local community.

For more information visit DEQ’s J.H. Baxter web page.

Learn more about EPA’s listing J.H. Baxter on the Superfund National Priorities List.

Media contacts:

DEQ: Lauren Wirtis, Communications Manager, lauren.wirtis@deq.oregon.gov, 503-568-3295

EPA: r10_press_team@epa.gov