DEQ release – The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued 17 penalties totaling $182,505 in November for environmental violations. A detailed list of violations and resulting penalties is at https://ordeq.org/enforcement. Fines ranged from $400 to $38,505. Alleged violations include seafood processors and cities discharging more pollution than allowed by their wastewater permits, industrial facilities operating without required air quality permits, and construction companies starting projects without meeting requirements that protect local waterways. DEQ issued civil penalties to the following organizations from the Coast: Astoria Pacific Seafoods LLC, $10,200, Astoria, wastewater; Bornstein Seafoods, Inc., $32,000, Astoria, wastewater; Wanita Parson, $400, Coos Bay, water quality. 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.
