Those issued citations can offset their penalty by funding an environmental project.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued 18 penalties amounting to $632,056 for environmental violations in the month of June, per a press release issued by the agency Thursday.
The fines issued ranged between $600 and $205,800. The biggest violation came from BP Products North America which, the DEQ alleges, inaccurately reported renewable fuel volumes and generated illegitimate credits.
Other violations included alleged illegal storage and treatment of hazardous waste disposal by Medford-based Anodex Finishing, and Cascade Steel Rolling Mills allegedly failing to install air pollution control equipment and submitting inaccurate information.
The DEQ issued civil penalties to the following organizations and individuals for the alleged infractions:
- Anodex Finishing Inc., $122,961, Medford, hazardous waste
- BP Products North America Inc., $205,800, statewide, clean fuels program
- Burnside Auto Wrecking, $9,792, Portland, solid waste
- Cascade Steel Rolling Mills, $181,604, McMinnville, air quality
- City of Albany, $3,900, Albany, wastewater
- City of Coquille, $8,044, Coquille, wastewater
- City of Dufur, $300, Dufur, wastewater
- City of Estacada, $4,825, Estacada, wastewater
- City of Hood River, $8,800, Hood River, wastewater
- Coastal Housing Solutions LLC, $3,000, Garibaldi, stormwater
- Duckwall-Pooley Fruit Co., $6,800, Hood River, wastewater
- Fujimi Corporation, $7,600, Wilsonville, wastewater
- Home Depot U.S.A. Inc $6,218, Bend and Portland, stormwater
- Justin Willett, $13,558, Hillsboro, stormwater
- Oregon Harvest LLC, $28,752, Portland, wastewater
- Charles Health System Inc., dba St. Charles Medical Center – Bend, $8,993, Bend, underground storage tank
- S. Forest Service, $600, Estacada, wastewater
- Warren Scott Hunter and Judith DeBrey, $10,509, Cloverdale, solid waste
Organizations or individuals cited by the DEQ must either pay the fines to the state treasury or file an appeal within 20 days after being notified of the penalty. Those issued citations may be able to offset a portion of a penalty by funding a supplemental environmental project that improves the state’s environment.
Penalties can also include orders requiring specific tasks to prevent ongoing violations or additional environmental harm.
