DEQ fines Gresham gravel mine $35k for several water quality violations

Gresham, OR (2/13/2018) — The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has fined Knife River Corporation Northwest $35,509 for violating its stormwater permit and allowing pollutants to enter Fairview Creek from its Gresham Sand and Gravel mine.

Inspectors from DEQ and the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries discovered in September 2017 that Knife River had changed its system for washing sediment from tires and undercarriages of mining trucks. Wastewater from this washing system was combining with stormwater and draining into Fairview Creek.

The wastewater from Knife River’s washing system may contain oil, metals and other pollutants that can contaminate waterways and threaten the health of Oregon’s people and environment. Knife River corrected the violation in November 2017 by re-routing the wheel wash water to an onsite infiltration pond.

Knife River also failed to conduct the daily inspections required by its stormwater permit between September 2014 and September 2017. These inspections are critical to ensuring the mine is minimizing industrial contaminants in the stormwater that discharges to Fairview Creek.

View the enforcement letter: https://www.oregon.gov/deq/nr/021318gravel.pdf

Contact: Contact: Laura Gleim, Public Affairs Specialist, Portland, 503-229-6488, gleim.laura@deq.state.or.us