Qorvo Oregon pays $4,276 penalty to resolve self-disclosed environmental violation related to its nickel plating operation in Bend
Qorvo Oregon, formerly Triquint Semiconductor, has paid a $4,276 civil penalty to resolve an environmental violation related to its nickel plating operation at a research and development facility located at 63140 Britta Street in Bend. Qorvo Oregon self-disclosed the violation to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality in December 2016.
After conducting an environmental audit, the company disclosed that it had operated a nickel-plating operation since 2008. DEQ began issuing General Air Contaminant Discharge Permits for this type of air source in April 2011.
Qorvo’s audit, which was completed in November 2016, revealed that Bend facility was operating without the required permit and the company promptly disclosed the violation to DEQ. The company was granted permit coverage by DEQ in March 2017.
Despite not having an air quality permit, Qorvo Oregon has demonstrated compliance with emission control requirements the permit would have required at the facility since at least January 2012. This includes adding a wetting agent or fume suppressant in the nickel plating tank to reduce emissions.
Qorvo Oregon and DEQ resolved the violation through a Mutual Agreement and Order, which requires the company to submit emissions information for the Bend facility to DEQ as part of the Cleaner Air Oregon data request. The Mutual Agreement and Order can be viewed here: https://www.oregon.gov/deq/nr/061417qorvo.pdf
Contact
Greg Svelund, Public Affairs, Bend, 541-633-2008, svelund.greg@deq.state.or.us
