DEQ revokes sewage disposal company’s license after numerous violations
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has revoked the license of a sewage disposal service provider based in Scappoose after the provider violated laws regarding onsite sewage disposal services on multiple occasions.
DEQ in May 2016 originally issued a Notice of Revocation of Onsite Sewage Disposal Service License and Installer Certification to Pedro Alex Lopez, doing business as A & S Septic Tank Service. Lopez appealed the decision and the Office of Administrative Hearings held a hearing on the proposed revocation in October 2016. The revocation became final in December after Lopez did not appeal the order to the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission within 30 days of the judge's decision being issued.
The order requires Lopez, doing business as A & S Septic Tank Service, to:
-Immediately stop performing sewage disposal services in Oregon
-Remove its license from display
-Remove all DEQ-issued labels from equipment used for work under the license
-Within 14 days of receiving the order, surrender its suspended license and certify in writing to DEQ that all DEQ-issued labels have been removed from all equipment
Lopez is also required to stop disseminating any advertising material and remove any signage that promotes the business as a licensed sewage disposal company.
Licensed and certified onsite system installers and pumpers are required to follow Oregon laws and regulations when constructing and repairing onsite systems and performing sewage disposal services.
Lopez originally received a license from DEQ to dispose of sewage in 2009. DEQ amended the license in 2012 to allow Lopez to install and pump. That installer/pumper license was renewed on July 7, 2015 and was set to expire on June 30, 2018.
Installer/pumper licenses allow license holders to construct and install onsite systems and to perform the grading, excavating or earth-moving work associated with the construction or installation of onsite systems and to pump or clean out onsite systems and to dispose of the material.
On Oct. 3, 2012 DEQ alleged two violations against Lopez: Performing sewage disposal services without the required license and causing or allowing the construction, alteration or repair of an onsite system without obtaining the required permit. DEQ and Lopez entered into a Mutual Agreement and Order in 2013 that required Lopez to pay $1,750. Lopez failed to pay that fine.
On Sept. 30, 2015 DEQ alleged thee additional violations against Lopez: Disposing of sewage in an unauthorized location, causing or allowing the construction, alteration or repair of two onsite systems or parts thereof without a permit, and performing sewage disposal services without a license. Lopez failed to pay the $7,305 fine for those violations.
Lopez's illegal disposal of sewage was a flagrant violation of Oregon environmental law that posed a significant threat to human health and the environment.
View the letter of proposed revocation and revocation notice: https://www.oregon.gov/deq/nr/010917lopezRev.pdf
Contact:
Katherine Benenati, Public Affairs Specialist, Eugene, 541-686-7997, benenati.katherine@deq.state.or.us