DEQ fines Amazon Web Services

By Terry Murry on Thursday, October 2nd, 2025 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories

SALEM – The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued a penalty to Amazon Web Services (AWS) in Hermiston for water quality violations. The $10,400 fine was issued in August. AWS can appeal the fine.

DEQ notified the company that it violated its water pollution control facility permit and the air contaminant discharge permit in August and September of 2024. It stated that AWS began construction of a new wastewater pond without DEQ approval in April 2024. Further DEQ cited violations in December 2023 by operating an emergency stationary internal combustion engine for more than 50 hours per year in a non-emergency situation.

“DEQ issued this penalty because compliance with the requirements set forth in your WPCF and ACDP permits are essential to protecting water quality, air quality, and public health,” the letter from DEQ stated.

This is one of seven penalties issue by DEQ statewide for various environmental violations in August. A detailed list of violations and resulting penalties is at https://ordeq.org/enforcement.