DEQ cites Eugene developer, 14 others for environmental violations

Tracy Loew, Salem Statesman Journal
·2 min read

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality levied 15 penalties in September, totaling $173,926.

Among those fined were a Eugene developer who started construction without a permit, endangering Amazon Creek, a houseboat owner who allowed paint to enter the Columbia River, causing a visible sheen, and several sewage treatment plants that exceeded discharge limits.

Recipients can appeal their fines by requesting a hearing within 20 calendar days of receiving their penalty letter. DEQ sometimes reduces or eliminates fines after appeals. Recipients also may be able to resolve part of their penalties by completing or sponsoring an environmental project instead of paying a fine.

Here are the citations:

  • Trimble Construction Co., Boring, $68,929: For discharging stormwater from construction activities without a permit at a site on Tickle Creek in Sandy.

  • Hurtco, Vancouver, Wash., $19,135: For performing construction activities in Astoria without a water quality permit.

  • Henseler Family Real Estate Oregon, Eugene, $13,600: For performing construction activities without a water quality permit and discharging wastes to wetlands. The violations were associated with the Joe Mushroom Facility at 211 Danebo Ave.

  • City of Pendleton, $11,400: For discharging wastewater from its municipal wastewater treatment plant that exceeded permitted limits.

  • YRC Freight, Portland, $9,612: For failing to implement requirements to protect water quality under its stormwater permit.

  • Del Monte Fresh Produce, Portland, $9,322: For failing to install corrective actions to reduce pollution in stormwater.

  • Richard and Virginia Sorem, Portland, $8,400: For allowing paint to enter the Columbia River during painting of their houseboat.

  • Clackamas Water Environment Services (Hoodland STP), Oregon City, $7,500: For exceeding wastewater permit limits for chlorine at its sewage treatment plant in Welches.

  • J.R. Simplot Company, Portland, $6,800: For failing to perform required monitoring under its stormwater permit at its deep water terminal on the Columbia River.

  • Interstate Meat Distributors, Clackamas, $5,778: For failing to collect water samples as required for monitoring under water quality permit.

  • Roseburg LFG Energy, Roseburg, $3,600: For failing to complete emissions testing required under its air quality permit at its landfill gas to energy facility at the Douglas County landfill.

  • Odell Sanitary District, Hood River, $2,700: For failing to perform required wastewater monitoring under its wastewater permit.

  • Central Coast Clean Water, Otter Rock, $2,250: For discharging non-disinfected wastewater, containing high concentrations of bacteria, to the Pacific Ocean.

  • Oldcastle APG West, Portland, $2,200: For exceeding air quality permit limits for particulate matter at its dry-mix concrete plant.

  • Alsea Quarries I, Alsea, $1,700: For failing to submit an annual report on time.

The listed fines don’t include two issued in September that DEQ had previously announced.

It fined Thompson Technical Services, of Lincoln City, $2.7 million for selling fraudulent clean fuel credits. And it fined Lamb Weston in Hermiston $127,800 for causing nitrate groundwater contamination in the Lower Umatilla Basin.

Tracy Loew covers the environment at the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips to tloew@statesmanjournal.com, 503-399-6779. Follow her on Twitter at @Tracy_Loew

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: DEQ cites Eugene developer, 14 others for environmental violations