Pollution Update 5-19-16

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) recently sent a warning letter to the Springfield Target Store (store # 612, located at Gateway Mall) for hazardous waste law violations. The store is designated as a “large quantity generator” of hazardous waste because it generates more than 2,200 pounds of hazardous waste per month. DEQ’s warning letter identifies reporting and inspection violations, and notes that DEQ had to contact Target Headquarters due to the unavailability of records at the Springfield store. DEQ also recently sent Maryland-based W.R. Grace & Co. – Conn. a warning letter for failing to repair leaks in reactors at its Albany facility within 15 days of discovery. Grace waited more than 100 days to repair leaks discovered in two of its reactors. As noted previously in this space (goo.gl/MXPn4n), Grace was fined by DEQ in April for illegally transporting hazardous waste from Portland to its Albany facility.