Portland seeks OHA compliance extension to 2029 for Bull Run filtration megaproject

Portland seeks OHA compliance extension to 2029 for Bull Run filtration megaprojectFollowing land use delays and supply chain volatility, the Portland Water Bureau has deployed a specialized advisory team to overhaul the project's risk register and appointed new leadership to guide the facility to completion.

The city requested a two-year extension to its bilateral compliance agreement with the Oregon Health Authority, shifting the target completion to 2029.

A Project Delivery Advisory Team condensed the project's risk register from 250 items to 45, prioritizing the resolution of cost and schedule impacts from LUBA delays.

Director Ting Lu announced plans to establish an independent financial oversight panel by early summer to monitor cost management.

Muriel, former program manager for a $631 million wastewater project, was appointed to lead the filtration project following the departure of interim chief engineer Ken Ankerman.

The Portland Water Bureau is advancing significant risk mitigation and governance overhauls for its Bull Run Filtration Project as it negotiates a revised timeline with state regulators. At an April 7 meeting of the Portland Utility Board, Public Utilities Director Ting Lu confirmed that the city has requested a two-year extension from the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to ensure the project is finished with high quality and safety. The extension to the bilateral compliance agreement would push the project's completion target to 2029. Lu noted that OHA is currently revising the agreement. The adjustment follows a period of work suspension, though the project recently saw its critical land use approvals affirmed and upheld. To control the megaproject's trajectory, the bureau has deployed a Project Delivery Advisory Team (PDAT) composed of construction management experts. According to PDAT lead Craig Martell, the team recently overhauled the project's risk register, paring down an initial list of 250 potential risks to 45 core items. Top priorities include finalizing the cost and schedule impacts stemming from local land use board of appeals (LUBA) delays, enhancing document control systems, and managing subcontractor procurement. With fuel prices and supply chain disruptions cited as ongoing threats, Lu has directed a supply chain audit and price volatility mitigation efforts to lock in costs for long-lead items. Furthermore, the bureau is conceptualizing a new independent financial oversight panel—targeted to launch by early summer—to monitor financial controls, cost management, and project delivery practices. The project is also navigating a leadership transition. Ken Ankerman, the Water Bureau's interim chief engineer, has stepped down to become the general manager of the West Slope Water District. Lu has appointed Muriel, who previously served as program manager for the Bureau of Environmental Services' $631 million Secondary Treatment Expansion Program (STEP), to lead the filtration project forward.