Portland OR (1/28/2013) – The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has signed a mutual agreement and order with the city of Gold Hill to address water quality permit violations at the city?s wastewater treatment plant. The order includes an agreement to pay a penalty of $2,438 for previous violations that DEQ can reduce if the city performs a project that benefits the environment.

The order also outlines the steps the city must take to repair or build a new treatment plant that will operate in compliance with state and federal laws and sets specific penalties if the city fails to meet the terms of the agreement.

For example, the city has until March 1, 2013 to select an engineering firm to prepare a facilities plan for the wastewater treatment plant. A facilities plan outlines the repairs or modifications necessary to ensure the plant can operate in compliance now and in the future. If the city does not select a contractor to prepare the plan, DEQ will penalize the city $500 for each day past the deadline.

The same holds true for sixteen other deadlines including a Feb. 1, 2014 deadline for submitting the draft facilities plan. Each deadline is related to a specific action and is designed to ensure the city makes progress on the upgrade and repair of the sewer plant.

The city must comply with the order during the length of the agreement, meet the effluent limits as specified in the sewer permit or must cease allowing new connections to the sewer collection system. If a violation occurs DEQ will penalize the city $10,000 for each new connection the city allows.

The city must repair the sewer plant and take steps to avoid an environmental disaster. In this case, a failing sewer plant could result in untreated or partially treated sewage entering the Rogue River increases. Exposure to untreated or partially treated sewage presents a public health threat through direct human contact. Untreated sewage can also harm aquatic life and render public waters unfit for human consumption and for recreational, commercial and agricultural uses.

For more information or to view the city?s permit and the mutual agreement and order please contact Oregon DEQ?s Jon Gasik at 541-776-6242 or via email at gasik.jon@deq.state.or.us .

Contacts: John Gasik, Water Quality Program, Medford, (541) 776-6242; William Knight, Communications & Outreach, Portland, (503) 229-5680