DEQ fines United States Postal Service $10,306 for stormwater violations in NW Portland
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has fined the United States Postal Service $10,306 for stormwater violations at its facility at 715 NW Hoyt St. in Portland.
DEQ issued this penalty for failing to monitor the benchmark pollutants total zinc and total suspended solids as required by USPS’ stormwater permit.
The agency failed to monitor at each of 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 agency, DEQ and the public are unable to evaluate the effectiveness of stormwater controls in protecting water quality and public health.
DEQ is particularly concerned because the USPS has previously paid civil penalties for similar violations at this facility.
United States Postal Service has until Nov. 20 to pay or appeal the penalty.
Contact:
Richard Fitzgerald, Environmental Law Specialist, Portland, 503-229-5395 Christine Svetkovich, Stormwater Program, Portland, 503-229-6991