The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued 16 penalties totaling $180,987 in February for various environmental violations. A detailed list of violations and resulting penalties is at https://ordeq.org/enforcement. Fines ranged from $1,200 to $42,130. Alleged violations included a wastewater facility discharging more pollution than allowed by its permit, a retirement community not properly testing its fuel underground storage tank, and a builder not implementing its erosion and sediment control plan.
On February 2nd Pacific Surimi, in Newport recieved a fine of $8,500 for reportedly discharging pollutants to waters of the state in excess of the limits established in the wastewater disposal permit. The organization or individual must either pay the penalty amount or appeal the violation within 20 days of receiving the notice. There may be several weeks or months delay between the date the notice was issued and the date it was received.
They may be able to offset a portion of a penalty by funding a supplemental environmental project that improves Oregon’s environment. 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.
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