EPA enforcement actions against wastewater plants in Oregon
10 formal actions at 9 of 126 plants · $64,520 in penalties · 8 EPA inspections
EPA's enforcement records list 10 formal civil enforcement cases naming publicly owned wastewater treatment plants in Oregon, 2 of them since fiscal year 2020. The cases involve 9 of the state's 126 plants, with $64,520 in penalties assessed. The most common ground is general duty/accidental release (3 cases). EPA has inspected 4 plants in the state, 8 inspections in total. Every plant links to its profile, and every case to its report on EPA's ECHO site.
Recent enforcement actions in Oregon
| Plant | Date | Type | Law section | Outcome | Penalty | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seaside WWTP Seaside | Aug 2024 FY2024 | Administrative order | NPDES Permit Violations | Final Order With Penalty | $3,750 | ECHO 10-2024-0056 |
EPA's description: “On August 20, 2024, Region 10 issued an expedited settlement agreement and final order to the City of Seaside Wastewater Plant located in Seaside, Oregon. Alleged violations included failure to…” | ||||||
| Mosier WWTP Mosier | Aug 2021 FY2021 | Administrative order | NPDES Permit Violations | Final Order With Penalty | $52,500 | ECHO 10-2021-0101 |
EPA's description: “EPA Region 10 Settles with Union Pacific Railroad Company, Mosier, OR for CWA Violations On August 27th, 2021 , Region 10 filed a consent agreement and final order resolving violations of the Clean…” | ||||||
| Warrenton STP Warrenton | May 2017 FY1997 | Administrative order | Permits for Dredge and Fill Material | Final Order No Penalty | — | ECHO 10-1997-0158 |
| Oak Lodge Water Reclamation Facility Milwaukie | Dec 2009 FY2010 | Administrative order | Prevention of Accidental Release/Risk Management Plans (RMPs) | Final Order With Penalty | $1,000 | ECHO 10-2010-0014 |
EPA's description: “Violations of Clean Air Act Section 112r” | ||||||
| Hermiston WWTP Hermiston | May 2008 FY2008 | Administrative order | Prevention of Accidental Release/Risk Management Plans (RMPs) | Final Order With Penalty | $1,810 | ECHO 10-2008-0079 |
| Astoria STP Astoria | Mar 2006 FY2006 | Administrative order | Prevention of Accidental Release/Risk Management Plans (RMPs) | Final Order With Penalty | $2,410 | ECHO 10-2006-0061 |
EPA's description: “Three EPA representatives inspected the City of Astoria Wastewater Treatment Facility on July 11 and 15th, 2005. Based upon this inspection, EPA believes City of Astoria Wastewater Treatment is in…” | ||||||
| Toledo STP Toledo | Aug 2004 FY2001 | Administrative order | General Duty/Accidental Release | Final Order With Penalty | $750 | ECHO 10-2001-0111 |
| Monmouth STP Monmouth | Aug 2004 FY2001 | Administrative order | General Duty/Accidental Release | Final Order With Penalty | $750 | ECHO 10-2001-0113 |
| Cannon Beach WWTF Cannon Beach | Jan 2004 FY2004 | Administrative order | UST Release Detection, Prevention, Correction Regulations | Final Order With Penalty | $50 | ECHO 10-2004-0096 |
EPA's description: “Expedited Settlement Program” | ||||||
| Seaside WWTP Seaside | Sep 2001 FY2001 | Administrative order | General Duty/Accidental Release | Final Order With Penalty | $1,500 | ECHO 10-2001-0199 |
Full case histories, milestones, violation types and EPA's complete case summaries for every plant are shown with a free Klarifi account. Create one
Largest penalties in Oregon
| # | Plant | Date | Type | Outcome | Penalty | Compliance actions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mosier WWTP Mosier | Aug 2021 FY2021 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $52,500 | $1M | ECHO 10-2021-0101 |
| 2 | Seaside WWTP Seaside | Aug 2024 FY2024 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $3,750 | $100 | ECHO 10-2024-0056 |
| 3 | Astoria STP Astoria | Mar 2006 FY2006 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $2,410 | $2,410 | ECHO 10-2006-0061 |
| 4 | Hermiston WWTP Hermiston | May 2008 FY2008 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $1,810 | $10,000 | ECHO 10-2008-0079 |
| 5 | Seaside WWTP Seaside | Sep 2001 FY2001 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $1,500 | — | ECHO 10-2001-0199 |
| 6 | Oak Lodge Water Reclamation Facility Milwaukie | Dec 2009 FY2010 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $1,000 | $22,480 | ECHO 10-2010-0014 |
| 7 | Toledo STP Toledo | Aug 2004 FY2001 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $750 | — | ECHO 10-2001-0111 |
| 8 | Monmouth STP Monmouth | Aug 2004 FY2001 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $750 | — | ECHO 10-2001-0113 |
| 9 | Cannon Beach WWTF Cannon Beach | Jan 2004 FY2004 | Administrative order | Final Order With Penalty | $50 | — | ECHO 10-2004-0096 |
Actions by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Formal actions | Penalties |
|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 0 | — |
| FY2019 | 0 | — |
| FY2020 | 0 | — |
| FY2021 | 1 | $52,500 |
| FY2022 | 0 | — |
| FY2023 | 0 | — |
| FY2024 | 1 | $3,750 |
| FY2025 | 0 | — |
| FY2026 | 0 | — |
| FY2027 | 0 | — |
EPA fiscal years run from 1 October to 30 September. The current year is partial.
EPA enforcement in Oregon: questions
How many EPA enforcement actions have been taken against wastewater plants in Oregon?
EPA's enforcement records list 10 formal civil enforcement cases naming publicly owned wastewater treatment plants in Oregon, 2 of them since fiscal year 2020. They involve 9 of the state's 126 plants. Informal actions such as notices of violation are not counted here.
Which Oregon wastewater plant received the largest EPA penalty?
Mosier WWTP in Mosier: $52,500 assessed in fiscal year 2021 (UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD (UPRR), Final Order With Penalty). Penalties are the amounts EPA records as assessed or agreed, not necessarily what was collected.
What does an EPA administrative order mean for a wastewater plant?
Most cases here are administrative orders under section 309 of the Clean Water Act: EPA finds permit violations, usually effluent limits or discharge without a permit, and orders the plant to return to compliance, often with a corrective action plan, a schedule and sometimes a penalty. Judicial cases go through the Department of Justice and typically end in a consent decree with a capital programme behind it. The latest case in Oregon is from Aug 2024.
Enforcement data: EPA ICIS-FE&C civil enforcement cases and ICIS compliance inspections, via ECHO. Penalties are the amounts assessed or agreed in each case as EPA records them. Latest case status in this data: Aug 2024.
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