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Public comments and questions are invited on a proposed action by the Nehalem Bay Health District to remediate environmental hazard issues at the old Wheeler hospital located at 278 Rowe Street in Wheeler, Oregon.
The hospital, owned by the Health District, was constructed in the early 1950’s and operated as the Rinehart Memorial Hospital until its closure in 1989. Until recently portions of the building were used by tenants as office space, as well as the Health District’s office and storage. All tenants and the
District office vacated the building as of October 31, 2025.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Nehalem Bay Health District are accepting public comments or questions related to the proposed remediation work. The comment period for both entities remains open until February 2, 2026.
As the DEQ announcement says:
“Hazardous building materials were identified during a survey in 2023 and include several asbestos containing materials, lead-based paint, and electrical equipment and fixtures suspected to contain polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs, and mercury. DEQ is proposing a mitigation option to address the hazardous building materials, which includes proper removal of these materials to prepare the building for demolition and eventual redevelopment.”
Further information is available at: https://www.oregon.gov/deq/getinvolved/documents/020226nehalem.pdf
Key details:
• The Health District plans to retain Apex Environmental, an experienced firm with a Portland office, to manage the remediation work.
• The Health District, pending the public comment period, expects to secure a remediation grant from Business Oregon to finance the work.
• All of the remediation work will be done inside the building.
• When the work commences it is not expected to impact traffic or other typical activities in the neighborhood.
• The District at its regular board meeting at 5:30 pm on January 21, 2026 will accept public comment on the proposed work. Information about the meeting is available at the District website: www.nehalembayhd.org
• Comments or questions can also be directed to: info@nehalembayhd.org