DEQ issues 14 penalties for environmental violations including Halfway & Hermiston

By on Wednesday, July 21st, 2021 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories

HALFWAY – (Release from DEQ) The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued 14 penalties totaling $1,192,745 in June for various environmental violations. A detailed list of violations and resulting penalties is at https://ordeq.org/enforcement.

Fines ranged from $2,400 to $1,023,054. Alleged violations included a tanning business illegally disposing of tanning lamps containing mercury, a proposed natural gas facility failing to implement stormwater control plans during road construction activities, and a glass manufacturer emitting more air pollution than allowed by its air quality permit.

DEQ issued civil penalties to the following organizations:

  • CFMW, LLC – Columbia Forge, $36,105, Portland, stormwater
  • City of Coburg, $4,200, Coburg, wastewater
  • Evergreen State Holdings, $9,000, Grass Valley, hazardous waste
  • Fishhawk Fisheries Inc., $6,200, Astoria, wastewater
  • Next Generation Tanning, LLC, $15,200 , Turner , hazardous waste
  • Oldcastle Precast, Inc., $21,920, Wilsonville, stormwater
  • Owens-Brockway Glass Container, Inc., $1,023,054, Portland, air quality
  • Paul M. Vettrus, $23,485, Turner, solid waste/hazardous waste/asbestos
  • Perennial Windchaser, LLC, $14,585, Hermiston, stormwater
  • Rare Earth Resources LLC, $6,400, Halfway, wastewater
  • Rose Garden Inn (Leah D. Pierce), $2,400, Drain, onsite wastewater
  • Sunriver Airport LLC, $12,396, Sunriver, stormwater
  • Threat Dynamics LLC, $12,800, Sherwood, hazardous waste
  • Trustin Construction LLC, $5,000, Tigard, asbestos

Organizations or individuals must either pay the fines or file an appeal within 20 days of receiving notice of the penalty. They may be able to offset a portion of a penalty by funding a supplemental environmental project that improves Oregon’s environment. Learn more about these projects at https://ordeq.org/sep.

Penalties may also include orders requiring specific tasks to prevent ongoing violations or additional environmental harm.

DEQ works with thousands of organizations and individuals to help them comply with laws that protect Oregon’s air, land and water. DEQ uses education, technical assistance, warnings and penalties to change behavior and deter future violations.

Note: DEQ is committed to balancing its vital obligation to enforce the law and protect the environment with a consideration of the dramatic disruptions to public health and the economy caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. DEQ will continue to exercise reasonable enforcement discretion within its authority when issuing civil penalties. In addition, DEQ recognizes the pandemic may affect the ability to comply with corrective actions or pay a civil penalty. Visit our webpage https://ordeq.org/COVID19 for more information about DEQ’s response to COVID-19.

Elkhorn Media Group