Interview of Portland State University geologist re Tena Bar money find

FD-302 (REV. 3-8-77)

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

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Date of transcription 2/14/80

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[REDACTED], Portland State University, home address [REDACTED], home telephone number [REDACTED], work telephone number [REDACTED], was interviewed following [REDACTED] Tena Bar in Vancouver, Washington, where portions of $20 bills had been found. These $20 bills were among the money furnished a person identifying himself as D. B. COOPER during a 1971 airplane high- jacking attempt. [REDACTED] was interviewed by SA [REDACTED] of the Portland, Oregon, FBI Office.

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[REDACTED] advised that he found the beach area in the vicinity where the money was found to be in approximately four different layers. These layers consisted of an upper sand layer, a post dredging sand layer, a clay lump (dredge) sand layer, and below that an older sand layer. The upper layer con- sisted of six inches to eight inches of reworked beach sand and is the sand which contained the fragments and bundles of the recovered money. This sand also contained soda pop cans and other debris, which were not severely damaged or rusted. The post dredging sand contained older soda pop cans, rusted nails and spikes, and other rusted artifacts, which were in a much more deteriorated condition. The clay lump (dredge) sand was a mix- ture of course sand and fragments of organic clay material, ranging from one inch to five inches in size. Based on U.S. Corps of Engineering records which reflect that they dredged the Columbia River at this site in 1974, [REDACTED] stated this clay layer in all probability, was deposited during that 1974 dredging. The older sands, which were light in color and uniform in texture and which were found below the clay lump sand, were deposited prior to the 1974 dredging.

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[REDACTED] advised that in the post dredging layer, he found cross bedded course and medium sand, which in- dicated the river and river waves had worked repeatedly on this layer since 1974. The upper six inches to eight inches of re- worked beach sand is the active layer which is currently being worked by the water of the Columbia River.

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Based on the condition of the money through observation, [REDACTED] advised that the money was probably washed into the location where it was found by natural river flow and was probably placed at the location of Tena Bar during the last rise in the Columbia River in the past two or three months.

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Investigation on 2/13/80 at Vancouver, Washington File # PD 164-41-[illegible]

by SA [REDACTED] :ckw Date dictated 2/14/80 DB Cooper-28189

This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency.

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[guess: UB] E, [guess: G], [guess: J], M, [illegible]

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[guess: SUB] [illegible] AP [guess: Bal] 5 [illegible]

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PD 164-41

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[REDACTED] based this belief on three facts. The first fact being that the money was rounded off on the corners, which would indicate a rolling motion and would indicate the flow [illegible] of the river. The second fact was that the money was found [illegible] in the surface layer of the upper reworked beach sand. The third fact was that the distribution of the money was in this surface layer only, and none was found to be in the post dredging sand. When reminded of the fact that the rubber bands holding the money together were still in place, but extremely brittle and crumbled upon touch, [REDACTED] [REDACTED] stated that the condition of the rubber bands would tend to lend credence to the assumption that the money had been at the location where found a longer period of time. Even with this, he still felt the money was not at the site for more than a year. At the height found, the money was definitely de- posited more than four years after the dredging of the Columbia River in 1974. He also added that he felt certain that the money did not work its way up through the post dredging sand to the upper layer.

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[REDACTED] found during his work at the site and areas surrounding the site, that the clay lump (dredged) sand ranging from a depth of approximately four feet, 25 yards from the money site, to only two feet where the money was found. He advised that this could be caused by many reasons, but most probably caused by the different elevations of the beach sand at the time the dredging occurred.

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Regarding the fact that the money itself was remark- ably well preserved, [REDACTED] advised that sand is sterile, and in nature, is probably the best preservative of any soil. This could also be the reason that the rubber bands were still in place around the money, although they were badly deteriorated, and would also lead credence to the fact that the money had been deposited in sand the major portion of the time since it was lost. The money would not have lasted for more than a year in nature unless protected. He added that fragments of the money could have been washed anywhere down stream in the Columbia, but he doubted that any additional money found would be as well pre- served unless it had been deposited in an upper layer of sand.

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[REDACTED] displayed a U.S. Geological Survey- Topographical Map, Bridal Veil Washington - Oregon Section, which reflected a twelve mile cross section of the drainage basin for the Washougal River. It is from this area, [REDACTED] felt the money likely originated from. He stated that there was ap- proximately one stream per mile of land in this area. If a person parachuted in this basin, he would most probably come to earth on

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DB Cooper-28190

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b6 b7C