DEQ release – The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued 13 penalties totaling $273,022 in December for environmental violations including two in Coos Bay. A detailed list of violations and resulting penalties is at https://ordeq.org/enforcement. Fines ranged from $3,126 to $56,676. Alleged violations include a pulp mill exceeding the carbon monoxide limits of its air quality permit, a company spilling a septic tank, and open burning of a building with asbestos materials. DEQ issued civil penalties to the following local, coastal, regional organizations: Coos Bay Fire Department, $38,100, Coos Bay, asbestos; Coos Bay School District, $56,676, Coos Bay, asbestos; FCC Commercial Furniture, $3,300, Roseburg, air quality; North West Septic LLC, $7,063, Astoria, onsite septic. 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.
