Grants Pass, OR (8/14/2018) — The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has fined Clear Estate 15 LLC $15,401 for water quality violations at its Grants Pass property at 501 Pinecrest Drive.

Specifically, the company failed to stabilize bare areas to prevent erosion, and sediment from reaching waters of the state. DEQ issued a warning letter with opportunity to correct to the company in December 2017. In March 2018, a DEQ inspector observed the same conditions at the site.

Sediment can degrade water quality harming fish and other aquatic life and threatening beneficial uses of waterways.

Of the civil penalty, $8,201 represents the economic benefit the company gained by failing to control erosion and sediment at the site.

Clear Estate has until Aug. 15 to appeal the penalty.

View the enforcement letter at: https://www.oregon.gov/deq/nr/081418clearest.pdf

Contact Katherine Benenati, Public Affairs Specialist, Eugene, 541-686-7997, benenati.katherine@deq.state.or.us