DEQ release – Statewide, OR – The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued 16 penalties totaling $180,987 in February for various environmental violations. A detailed list of violations and resulting penalties is at https://ordeq.org/enforcement. Fines ranged from $1,200 to $42,130. Alleged violations included a wastewater facility discharging more pollution than allowed by its permit, a retirement community not properly testing its fuel underground Storage tank, and a builder not implementing its erosion and sediment control plan. DEQ issued a civil penalty to one organization or individuals on the Coast: Pacific Surimi, Newport, $8,500, wastewater. 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. Learn more about these projects at https://ordeq.org/sep. 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.
