For release: Sept. 14, 2009

Contacts:
Bryan Smith, Compliance and Enforcement, Portland, (503) 229-5395
Carl Nadler, Water Quality Program, The Dalles, (541) 298-7255 x227

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued a $1,521 penalty to ConAgra Foods Packaged Foods, LLC for failing to comply with conditions of the wastewater discharge permit for the wastewater treatment facility located at 78153 Westland Rd. in Hermiston, Oregon.

DEQ had issued ConAgra Foods a Water Pollution Control Facilities permit in October 2006 which allowed the company to construct, install, modify, or operate a wastewater collection, treatment, control and disposal system in conformance with the requirements and limitations of the permit.

DEQ issued a civil penalty to ConAgra Foods for failing to perform the required monthly monitoring of the facility’s wastewater for nitrate-nitrogen in April 2009.

            The regulatory system that protects water quality in Oregon relies almost exclusively on complete and accurate monitoring and reporting by pollution sources such as ConAgra.  This information is the basis for all efforts, both public and private, to restore and protect Oregon’s water resources. Without it, DEQ cannot evaluate whether ConaAgra Food’s irrigation with treated wastewater met permit requirements.

            ConAgra Foods has until Sept. 28 to appeal the penalty.