DEQ fines Sherwood company for solid waste and stormwater violations
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has fined Bob Jonas and Water Truck Services Inc., doing business as Ecology Composting, $22,800 for polluting waters of the state by discharging stormwater mixed with leachate from its composting facility near Dayton.
DEQ also cited the company for failing to operate and maintain its facility to prevent leachate discharges. Leachate – the liquid that leaks or drains from such a facility – can contain a host of harmful pollutants including iron. Such pollutants can harm aquatic life, contaminate drinking water and impair a water body's recreational, commercial and agricultural uses. Compost leachate can also cause offensive odors and poses a threat to public health and the environment.
DEQ has also ordered the company to take a series of actions to prevent future discharges of leachate and to be able to consistently meet all other requirements of their DEQ compost permit.
The company is appealing the penalty.
View the enforcement letter: https://www.oregon.gov/deq/nr/052416watertruckE.pdf
Contacts:
Kieran O'Donnell, Environmental Law Specialist, Portland, 503-229-5012, odonnell.kieran@deq.state.or.us
Julie Berndt, Solid Waste Specialist, Eugene, 541- 687-7342, berndt.julie@deq.state.or.us
