Harney County Lincoln School Cleanup Project
Background:
Harney County was awarded a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Brownfield Cleanup Grant (CA# 4B-02J52001) in November 2023. The County used the brownfield funds to address most hazardous building materials (i.e., asbestos-containing materials [ACM] and lead-based paint [LBP]) and decommission an aboveground heating oil tank. Harney County intended to revitalize the property for productive reuse; prevent potential risks to site workers, the community and environment; and stimulate economic development.
The former Lincoln School, located at 550 North Court Avenue, Burns, Oregon, was built in 1928. The approximately 29,000-square foot three-story building was the primary school for Burns until its acquisition by Harney County School District in 1964. The school building had been vacant and unused since approximately 2000. Harney County purchased the property in September 2022.
Cleanup Activities:
Environmental assessments of the property, conducted using the County’s EPA Coalition Assessment Grant (CA# BF-01J86601), identified the following as environmental concerns: asbestos-containing materials (ACM) and lead-based paint (LBP) in several locations within the main building and ACM on the building exterior; and a 10,000-gallon aboveground heating oil tank in an enclosure off the boiler room. The onsite activities for the cleanup project were completed in May and June 2025 and included the following:
- Procurement of qualified contractors
- Sampling and analysis for discovered ACM
- Abatement of asbestos-containing materials
- Encapsulation of surfaces coated with LBP
- Decommissioning (in-place) of a 10,000-gallon heating oil tank
- Floor and sump cleaning, patching and sealing in former boiler room due to oil spills/leaks
- Confirmation testing of soil and soil vapor for petroleum contamination
The cleanup project largely addressed the assessment findings to prepare the site for future reuse. However, during the project, additional building materials suspected to contain asbestos were discovered that were not previously sampled and may contain asbestos. Any building materials suspected to contain asbestos can be further assessed during redevelopment planning. Building materials in good condition do not pose a risk unless damaged.
A copy of the final Cleanup Completion Report is available via Lincoln School Cleanup Project ~ Cleanup Completion Report.
Additional project documents are accessible via https://ordeq.org/LincolnSchoolCleanupProject by clicking on the “Supporting Documents” tab and then clicking on red PDF icon.
Project questions or concerns may be directed to Oregon DEQ Project Manager, Kara Master, via phone (503) 229-5585 or by email kara.e.master@deq.oregon.gov.
Click on the icon to the left for an informational flyer.