OR DEQ issues air and water quality fines
By Terry Murry on Monday, October 3rd, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
SALEM – The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has fined Lamb Weston $127,800 for exceeding the nitrogen limits of its wastewater disposal permit for its Hermiston plant as well as for polluting the waters of the state by allowing nitrates to enter the groundwater.
The company’s wastewater land application sites are in the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area. That area was established by DEQ in 1990 due to elevated concentrations of nitrates in the groundwater. The company is also required to develop and implement a plan to ensure compliance with the nitrogen limits.
DEQ has also issued smaller fines to other groups in the region recently.
Woodgrain, Inc. is being fined $6,000 for failing to collect and report pH monitoring data for its sawmill in Pilot Rock. DEQ said the company has begun efforts to make sure the violation is not repeated.
The city of Stanfield is fined $1,950 for discharging wastewater that exceeded coliform limits in its permit. The city has taken steps to ensure the mistake is not repeated, including certification from truck wash-out users.
The Oregon Potato Company in Salem is fined $2,800 for exceeding the nitrogen oxides allowed in emissions from the potato processing plant in Boardman. The agency reports the company has taken steps to address the violations already.
In all three of the fines, DEQ says it has taken the steps to rectify the problems into account when determining the fine. All are allowed to appeal.
