Grants Pass pair cited by DEQ for illegal dumping
On Oct. 27, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued a civil penalty of $759 to Deborah A. Jones and Kenneth A. Stinson of Grants Pass for illegally burying a horse on their property, located at 2681 Robertson Bridge Rd. in Grants Pass.
In May, DEQ received a complaint of a horse buried on property owned by Jones and Stinson, and in close proximity to a drinking water well and seasonal creek. Oregon law prohibits solid waste disposal anywhere other than a permitted solid waste disposal site. Further, the Oregon Department of Agriculture informed the couple in a May letter that there are rules governing proper animal burial in order to protect ground and surface water.
DEQ issued the penalty because the violation poses a risk to public health and the environment. Additionally, despite letters requesting correction of the violation, DEQ has not received documentation that the violation has been corrected. A portion of the penalty represents the economic benefit gained by avoiding compliance costs.
The couple has until Nov. 18 to appeal the penalty.
Contacts:
Sarah Wheeler, Environmental Law Specialist, Portland, 503-229-6927 David Esch, Solid Waste Specialist, Medford, 541-776-6148
