DEQ fines Solaicx $11,559 for stormwater violations
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has fined Solaicx Inc. $11,559 for stormwater violations at its SunEdison facility at 7832 North Leadbetter Road in Portland. The facility manufactures electronic components and accessories.
DEQ issued this penalty because the company failed to monitor benchmark pollutants as required by its stormwater permit. The company did not monitor for total copper, total lead, total zinc, total suspended solids, total oil and grease, E. coli, biological oxygen demand and total phosphorous at each of its two sampling locations during one of two sampling events required between Jan. 1 and June 30 of the 2014-15 monitoring year.
Without monitoring, the company, DEQ and the public are unable to evaluate the effectiveness of the company’s stormwater controls in protecting water quality and public health. DEQ is particularly
concerned because Solaicx has previously paid civil penalties for similar violations at this facility.
Solaicx has until Dec. 8 to pay or appeal the penalty.
Contact:
Esther Westbrook, Environmental Law Specialist, Portland, 503-229-5374
Christine Svetkovich, Stormwater Program, Portland, 503-229-6991