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A Multnomah County hearings officer this month will take up the remand of a land use case that has blocked construction of the $2.1 billion Bull Run Filtration Project.

The hearing could be the next step toward resuming construction of the plant, which is designed to provide water to approximately 1 million Portland Water Bureau customers.

In February, the bureau halted project construction after an adverse ruling by the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals, which said the county had failed to fully consider criteria for community use natural resources when it approved construction.

LUBA remanded the matter to a county hearings officer after providing additional findings supported by evidence.

Since February, the massive project on a 93-acre site along Lusted Road at the Multnomah-Clackamas county line has sat idle. Crews have conducted only 鈥渨ind-down activities鈥� such as pouring concrete to stabilize shoring, stormwater management, erosion control, equipment maintenance and site security, according to the Water Bureau.

The project is led by a joint venture of water plant specialist MWH Constructors and construction giant Kiewit Corp. The team broke ground in June 2024. When construction was stopped, about 145 local craftspeople were told to stay home.

The plant鈥檚 land-use applications were challenged by the Cottrell Community Planning Organization and 11 individuals who have opposed the plant鈥檚 construction.

The Water Bureau has decried the delay, pointing to a regulatory deadline of Sept. 30, 2027, to provide filtered drinking water to customers after a parasite was repeatedly found in the city鈥檚 water supply.

The remand hearing will take place at 9 a.m. on April 16 at the East County Health Center (Sharron Kelley Conference Room), 600 N.E. Eighth St. in Gresham. People can attend the hearing and give testimony in person or online.