Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) recently sent Shell Oil Products Company a warning letter for failing to have the wastewater system at its Halsey facility, near I-5 and Highway 228, supervised by a certified operator. DEQ considers this a serious violation of the Clean Water Act. The Clean Water Act permit for this facility expired on June 30, 2011.
DEQ has issued a draft permit for Weyerhaeuser’s Truck Road Landfill, located in Springfield southeast of Mt. Vernon Road and Bob Straub Parkway. This 20-acre landfill received industrial solid waste (e.g., log pond dredgings, pulp waste, lime grits, boiler fly ash and general wood waste) generated by the wood products industry during its operation, and was closed in 1982. Nearby groundwater is affected by leachate from the landfill, though the nearest downgradient groundwater user is approximately 2,400 feet from the landfill boundary. Public comments are being accepted until 5 pm on Jan. 14.
DEQ has issued a draft permit covering 163 City of Eugene dry wells, which are “stormwater management facilities that collect stormwater runoff from adjacent areas and direct it into the ground.” DEQ received the city’s permit application in July of 2002 (over 10 years ago). The draft permit has a duration of 10 years and, among other things, requires the city to prepare a stormwater monitoring plan; a system-wide assessment of dry wells; a dry well management plan; and an annual dry well report. Public comments are being accepted until 5 pm on Jan. 15.
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A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
That’s because of you!
Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.
Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.
We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.
And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.
None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.
As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.
Thank you for standing with us!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519