DEQ release – The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued 13 penalties totaling $253,668 in January for various environmental violations. A detailed list of violations and resulting penalties is at https://go.usa.gov/xEQJn. Fines ranged from $1,575 to $41,405. Alleged violations included a tiny homes manufacturer operating without an air quality permit, contractors violating proper asbestos abatement protocols and a construction company failing to implement stormwater controls at multiple development sites. DEQ issued civil penalties to the following Coastal organizations: City of Powers, $2,500, Powers, wastewater; Coastal Housing Solutions, LLC, $32,817, Garibaldi, stormwater; Industrial Harbors USA, LLC, $41,405, Gardiner, solid waste. 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. Read more about these projects here: https://www.oregon.gov/deq/Regulations/Pages/SEP.aspx. 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.
