The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has hit Pacific Recycling with yet another penalty (see previous Pollution Updates for other violations), this time for discharging stormwater containing hydraulic fluid to Roosevelt Channel in December. According to DEQ documents, a large grader that Pacific Recycling was unloading at its Cross Street facility on Dec. 23 tipped over, spilling hydraulic fluid. Pacific Recycling failed to clean up the hydraulic fluid or take steps to prevent it from contaminating stormwater until the next afternoon, by which time it had already contaminated Roosevelt Channel. DEQ assessed a penalty of $25,200 against Pacific Recycling for this “serious violation of Oregon environmental law” on May 27. According to DEQ, the penalty was lower than would have otherwise been the case due to Pacific Recycling’s “efforts to minimize the effects of the violation by eventually cleaning up the spill.”

DEQ is accepting comments through 5 pm Wednesday, June 17, for two applications for Clean Water Act construction stormwater permits: Seneca Sawmill Company’s application for activities at its Highway 99 facility, and Brenelaine Investments, LLC’s application for its Pennington Acres Subdivision at North Park Avenue and Howard Avenue. Visit goo.gl/HcPy8 for more information on commenting. — Doug Quirke/Oregon Clean Water Action Project