DEQ Fines Charleston Processor, March 2

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has fined Bandon Pacific Inc. $54,910 for exceeding the pollution limits in its wastewater discharge permit at its processing facility. The company operates a seafood processing facility off Boat Basin Road in Charleston that discharges wastewater to Coos Bay under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. The permit requires the facility to treat wastewater and to discharge treated wastewater from permitted discharge points. The facility exceeded pollution limits on a number of occasions between June 2014 and September 2016. DEQ’s permits include pollutant limits to protect aquatic life and human health. The company has until March 20 to appeal the penalty.