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
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