Pollution Update 4-17-14

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality sent San Mateo-based J.H. Baxter & Co. a warning letter on March 31 for various hazardous waste law violations discovered by DEQ during an unannounced inspection on March 25 at Baxter’s wood treatment facility in Eugene’s Trainsong neighborhood. Violations included failure to label hazardous waste, failure to conduct required hazardous waste inspections, failure to provide up-to-date contingency plans to first responders and failure to clean up spills. DEQ recommended that Baxter “improve housekeeping for [the] entire site,” and requested a written response by May 6, including documentation of removal of hydrocarbon-contaminated soil observed during the inspection.