Croman Mill District Updates

February 12, 2024 Cleanup Update

Croman Corporation has outlined a cleanup schedule focusing initially on the two former wigwam burner sites. If the weather allows, the plan is to start removing material from these sites on February 17th and 24th. On these dates, the soil excavated will also be transported to the Greb Pit in Eagle Point. This operation aligns with the Solid Waste Letter Authorization issued by DEQ on November 15, 2023. After the removal, the areas where the burners were located will undergo additional sampling and testing to ensure no contaminants are left behind. Should any contaminants be found, further cleanup will be necessary. Regarding the cleanup of the area previously used for wood treatment, where dioxins were discovered, this will be postponed until a final disposal site of the excavated soil is identified.

The former Croman Mill site consists of approximately 70 acres and was home to sawmill operations for 62 years, from 1934 to 1996.

Mcgrew Mill 1960s

In 2010 the City adopted the Croman Mill District Plan to guide the future redevelopment of the site. Key objectives reviewed during the creation of the Croman Mill District Plan and implementing standards included:

  • Preservation of employment lands
  • Buffering the neighborhood to the west
  • Mitigating traffic impacts on Tolman Creek Road
  • Preservation of natural areas (creeks, ponds, and wetlands),
  • A central open-space element
  • Providing a street network incorporating truck, transit, pedestrian, and bicycle access
  • Creating a unique identity to improve the visibility of the area

Future Redevelopment

In September of 2021, the owners of the former Croman Mill site, and the development team named Townmakers LLC, began conceptualizing the future development of the property for a mixed-use development incorporating commercial, employment, light industrial, and residential uses.

Currently in the design phase, once a final proposal is submitted to the City for review and consideration, public hearings will be scheduled before the Planning Commission and City Council. The City Council is expected to have an update on the status of this proposal on October 15, 2022.

Townmakers Vision 2021 Qamar IllustrationIllustration by L. Qamar

Current Clean-Up Status

The former mill site consists of approximately 70 acres and was home to planning and sawmill operations for 62 years, from 1934 to 1996. At the time that mill operations were abandoned, the property contained an abundance of decommissioned equipment, construction material, and piles of debris and organic material. Between 2012 and 2022 approximately 1,000,000 cubic yards of old mill debris have been excavated and sorted into wood waste, concrete waste, asphalt waste, and metal debris, for removal from the property. This work continues and within the document archive section below current information regarding this ongoing clean-up effort is provided.

During spring 2023, the property owner conducted a DEQ-approved sampling across the site. At a few locations, the sampling found dioxins and furans in shallow soils above residential and occupational use levels allowed by DEQ. DEQ will oversee the soil removal work to address the contamination, which may start in early 2024. As the soil is removed, the property owner will further sample the soil to confirm there isn't more contamination. Based on the sampling results there may be additional assessment. Heavy equipment will excavate the soil and load it into dump trucks, which will haul the excavated soil from the site to a privately owned quarry in Eagle Point for disposal. Some of the soil will be taken for disposal to Dry Creek Landfill, also in Eagle Point.

Truck Load Logs

(Provided by Croman Corporation)

  1. April 2022 Truck Log (PDF)
  2. August 2022 Truck Log (PDF)
  3. July 2022 Truck Log (PDF)
  4. June 2022 Truck Log (PDF)
  5. May 2022 Truck Log (PDF)
  6. October 2022 Truck Log (PDF)

Site Assessment Reports

(City Staff) 

  1. City Council Update Memo August 2 2022 (PDF)
  2. March 2022 Staff Site Assessment (PDF)
  3. May 2022 Staff Site Assessment (PDF)
  4. November 2022 Staff Site Assessment (PDF)

Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Documents

  1. DEQ Fact Sheet - Environmental Cleanup December 14 2023 (PDF)
  2. DEQ Site Inspection August 20 2019 (PDF)
  3. DEQ Site Inspection May 1 2015 (PDF)
  4. Draft Site Investigation Workplan (PDF)
  5. SCS Engineers Site Investigation Data Report June 19 2023 (PDF)
  6. SCS FINAL Work Plan for Interim Remedial Action-Additional Soil Sampling November 20 2023 (PDF)

For more information go to DEQ's Environmental Cleanup Site Information database for the Croman Mill project.

Concerned about current onsite activities being a public disturbance? Please contact the City of Ashland Code Compliance Division using the Municipal Code Complaint Form.

DEQ Contacts

Anthony Chavez, Cleanup Project Manager
Phone: 541-687-7348

Dylan Darling, Public Affairs Specialist
Phone: 541-600-6119