The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued eight penalties totaling $154,381 in June for various environmental violations. A detailed list of violations and resulting penalties is at https://ordeq.org/enforcement.
Fines ranged from $5,200 to $57,348. Alleged violations included hazardous waste violations by a metal casting company, a wireless phone company not following air regulations and a garbage incinerator exceeding air permit emission limits.
DEQ issued civil penalties to the following organizations:
- City of Philomath, Philomath, $5,200, wastewater
- City of Seneca, Seneca, $13,125, wastewater
- Federal Express Corporation, Medford, $6,400, stormwater
- GTE Wireless LLC, Statewide, $31,800, air quality
- Matthews International Corp., Sherwood, $8,108, stormwater
- Reworld Marion Inc., Brooks, $22,800, air quality
- Ti Squared Technologies Inc., Millersburg, $57,348, hazardous waste
- Yoshida Foods International LLC, Portland, $9,600, wastewater
Recipients of DEQ civil penalties must either pay the fines to the state treasury 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.
Media contact: Dylan Darling, public affairs specialist, 541-600-6119, dylan.darling@deq.oregon.gov
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Public Affairs
Western Region: Benton, Coos, Curry, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties
541-600-6119
https://www.oregon.gov/deq/
