Eugene Weekly

Comments on stormwater pollution control plans for three Eugene Sand & Gravel facilities (one on Coburg Road and two on North Delta Highway in Eugene) and Knife River Corporation — Northwest’s Harrisburg facility are due to Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) by 5 pm Oct. 18. Eugene Sand & Gravel is an assumed business name of Eugene Sand Construction, Inc. and Spokane-based CPM Development Corporation. Visit http://goo.gl/ScwdH to see stormwater plans, and http://goo.gl/DvYGCn to comment. Continue reading →

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) assessed a civil penalty of $6,676 against PeaceHealth on Sept. 26 for operating an unpermitted underground storage tank and failing to upgrade it with corrosion protection at Peace Harbor Medical Center in Florence. PeaceHealth has owned and operated the underground storage tank since at least 1989 and failed to upgrade it with required corrosion protection by December 1998.  Continue reading →

It appears that the city of Eugene has completed its annual review of stormwater monitoring from the 76 local facilities that discharge industrial stormwater to local waterways pursuant to the statewide Clean Water Act industrial stormwater permit. The city oversees compliance at these facilities under an agreement with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Continue reading →

The city of Eugene sent “request for corrective action” letters to States Veneer and Tyree Oil in August for failing to submit industrial stormwater discharge reports to the city for 2012-2013 industrial stormwater discharges from their facilities. Both facilities submitted the required reports after receiving the city’s letters. Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) sent a warning letter to Marjorie Smith of Corvallis on Sept. 3 for operating the septic system at Crooked Creek Mobile Home Park in Alsea without a discharge permit. Continue reading →

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) sent a notice of noncompliance to Cascade Pacific Pulp LLC on July 19 for a hazardous waste violation at its Halsey facility, specifically for storing waste without a permit. Comments on stormwater plans for Schnitzer Steel, BJB Milling & Lumber, Ideal Steel and Seneca Sawmill Company are due to DEQ by 5 pm Sept. 5. Visit goo.gl/ScwdH to see stormwater plans, and goo.gl/iMDQb to comment. Continue reading →

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) sent a warning letter to Jeanne M. Burris of Springfield on July 29 for illegally operating a waste tire storage site at property owned by Burris at 29882 Kelso St. in Eugene. DEQ’s warning letter indicates that while more than 17 tons of tires from the site have already been disposed of at Delta Sand and Gravel, additional tires remain on the property and also that improper storage and accumulation of tires can be a fire hazard and attract mosquitoes, rats and mice. Continue reading →

Comments to Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) regarding industrial stormwater pollution control plans for two B & R Auto Wrecking facilities (one in Albany and one in Corvallis) are due by 5 pm on August 9. Visit goo.gl/ScwdH to see stormwater plans, and goo.gl/iMDQb to comment. It should be noted that while DEQ is required to respond in writing to comments on stormwater plans, it recently came to light that DEQ considers mere written acknowledgement of receipt of comments to fulfill this requirement, which appears to violate the intent of the law. Continue reading →

Comments to Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) regarding industrial stormwater pollution control plans for the following Lane County facilities are due by 5 pm on July 29: Eugene Airport, Goshen Forest Products, Lane County Central Receiving Station, Pacific Rim Manufacturing (Jasper) Rosboro (Springfield), Short Mountain Landfill, Starfire Lumber (Cottage Grove), Sundance Lumber (Springfield) and Swanson Bros. Lumber (Noti). Visit goo.gl/ScwdH to see stormwater plans, and goo.gl/iMDQb to comment. Continue reading →

Comments to Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) regarding industrial stormwater pollution control plans for the following Linn County facilities are due by 5 pm on July 25 (facilities are located in Albany unless otherwise noted): Absorbent Technologies (two Albany locations), Albany-Lebanon Sanitation, Bear Mountain Forest Products (Brownsville), Dave Hunter Manufacturing, Decorative Bark Products (Lyons), Eagle Veneer (Harrisburg), Entek International (Lebanon), Frank Lumber (Lyons), Freres Lumber (two locations in Lyons, one i Continue reading →

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) assessed a penalty of $2,400 against Bear Mountain Forest Products on July 3 for violating the Clean Air Act permit for its wood pellet manufacturing facility in Brownsville in September. Bear Mountain violated the opacity limit in its permit; opacity is an indicator for particulate emissions, which can contribute to respiratory distress, affect the heart and lungs and cause serious health problems such as decreased lung function, irregular heartbeat and chronic bronchitis. Continue reading →