Back in June of 2014, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) hit Pacific Recycling with a $327,686 penalty for repeatedly discharging harmful levels of industrial pollutants to waters of the state and failing to install a treatment system in 2011 as it had promised to do. DEQ reduced the penalty to $47,494 in January and issued an order requiring Pacific Recycling to install its treatment system by Jan. 16; Pacific Recycling agreed to pay a penalty of $283,157 if it failed to meet this deadline. Pacific Recycling missed the deadline. DEQ has again let Pacific Recycling off the hook, instead imposing a penalty of $11,600 for the latest missed deadline, and giving Pacific Recycling until June 30 to install the treatment system. Pacific Recycling has now agreed to pay the $283,157 penalty if they miss the new deadline. For the penalties that Pacific Recycling has actually agreed to pay at this point ($47,494 plus $11,600), DEQ has come up with a payment plan allowing Pacific Recycling to pay $980 per month through July of 2021.
DEQ is accepting comments through 5 pm Friday, June 5, on Pacific Recycling’s application for Clean Water Act stormwater permit coverage for its stormwater discharges. Visit goo.gl/iMDQb for information on commenting. Pacific Recycling’s stormwater discharges have taken place pursuant to an expired permit since July 1, 2012.
DEQ is also accepting comments through 5 pm Wednesday, June 10, on Fam-Lee, LLC’s application for a Clean Water Act construction stormwater permit for its Addyson Creek project on River Road. Visit goo.gl/HcPy8 for more information on commenting.
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