DEQ issues 6 penalties for environmental violations
Note: DEQ is committed to balancing its vital obligation to enforce the law and protect the environment with a consideration of the dramatic disruptions to public health and the economy caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. DEQ will continue to exercise reasonable enforcement discretion within its authority when issuing civil penalties. In addition, DEQ recognizes that the outbreak may affect the ability to comply with corrective actions or pay a civil penalty. Visit our webpage https://ordeq.org/COVID19 for more information about DEQ’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued six penalties totaling $127,121 in October for various environmental violations. A detailed list of violations and resulting penalties is at https://www.oregon.gov/deq/Pages/enforcement-actions.aspx.
Fines ranged from $412 to $93,409. Alleged violations included discharging more pollution than allowed by wastewater permit, failing to monitor stormwater for pollutants, and late submission of a required report for the Clean Fuels Program.
DEQ issued civil penalties to the following organizations and individuals:
• Associated Petroleum Products, $412, Salem, Clean Fuels Program
• DepCom Power, Inc., $93,409, Estacada, stormwater
• Nehalem Bay Wastewater Agency, $2,100, Nehalem, wastewater
• PCC Structurals, Inc., $9,600, Clackamas, wastewater
• Recology Valley View Inc., $14,400, Ashland, wastewater
• Sheldon Petroleum Services, LLC, $7,200, La Grande, underground heating oil tank
Organizations or individuals must either pay the fines 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.
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: Lauren Wirtis, Lauren.Wirtis@deq.state.or.us, 503-568-3295
###