SEATTLE — In an effort to oversee discharge storm water from targeted industries, an Oregon company became the second company this month to be fined for Clean Water Act violations.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Oct. 13 that D.R. Johnson of Riddle, Oregon, will pay $49,948 for violations of the Clean Water Act.
Under the Clean Water Act, Oregon lumber facilities like D.R. Johnson are required to comply with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) Industrial Stormwater Discharge Permit, which includes having a Stormwater Pollution Control Plan (SWPCP).
As part of EPA’s collaborative effort to help oversee the industrial stormwater sector with ODEQ, EPA targeted inspections of predominant industries covered by the Permit.
As a result, during a 2021 inspection, EPA found an area that discharged stormwater directly off-site and was not included in D.R. Johnson’s SWPCP. EPA discussed the unmonitored point of discharge with the facility, and the facility agreed to start quarterly water quality sampling as required by the permit. Sampling results indicated the facility exceeded the permitted water quality benchmarks.
D.R. Johnson took immediate action by installing treatment and updating their SWPCP.
“Industrial facilities must have stormwater pollution controls in place to protect our waters,” said EPA Region 10 Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Director Ed Kowalski. “We are pleased the company took swift action to improve their operations and prevent pollution — actions that will ultimately help our water quality in the Pacific Northwest.”
On Oct. 5, the same Seattle office fined Clearwater Forest Industries LLC of Kooskia, Idaho, $23,950 for violations of Section 402 of the Clean Water Act.
The facility had a total of 23 violations of their Multi-Sector General Permit for stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity, including failure to:
- maintain stormwater control measures
- maintain a complete Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan map
- submit monthly Discharge Monitoring Reports
- submit the 2019 Annual Report on time
- complete inspection report forms
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