Clackamas, OR (7/11/2016) ? The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has fined Distribution, Inc., doing business as FTL, Inc. $6,000 for stormwater violations at its trucking facility at 16795 SE Evelyn St. in Clackamas, Oregon.

DEQ issued the company this penalty for failing to collect and analyze stormwater monitoring data for benchmark pollutants between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2015, as required its stormwater permit. DEQ requires monitoring data to ensure that discharges from the facility meet the water quality benchmarks in the permit. Failure to meet the benchmarks may indicate the presence of harmful levels of industrial pollutants that could enter public streams and rivers. These discharges can damage aquatic species and their habitat and reduce the safety of public waters for public use.

DEQ cited the company, without penalty, for failing to implement and maintain an employee stormwater orientation and education program until December 2015. This is a serious violation because many employees at the facility are in close contact with materials and processes which may be exposed to stormwater runoff, making them the first line of response to spills or equipment failures.

In determining the penalty amount, DEQ considered the company’s efforts to minimize the effects of the violations by taking two additional benchmark samples during the fall 2014 monitoring period and for implementing a stormwater training program for employees.

Distribution, Inc. has appealed the penalty.

Contact: Jenny Root, Environmental Law Specialist, Portland, 503-229-5874, root.jenny@deq.state.or.us; Derek Gill, Water Quality Program, Portland, 503-229-6855, gill.derek@deq.state.or.us