Riverbend Landfill has wasted no time moving forward. The company, which received its Yamhill County expansion permit April 23, has already asked the state Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for an environmental permit to allow it to expand.
The County permit depends on issuance of a DEQ permit and also depends on DEQ to enforce many of the most important provisions the County wants to see in the expanded dump, including earthquake safety and water quality protection.
But DEQ has proven in the past that it is loathe to enforce rules against the landfill. Permits requiring preservation of air and water quality are loosely drafted, allowing Riverbend to police itself as well as to decide how to comply in many cases. When an apparent violation occurs, DEQ allows the landfill to redraw the rules.
This Thursday evening you can see for yourself how lax DEQ oversight of the dump actually is. DEQ will be holding a hearing on the landfill's Air Quality permit. Anyone can review the permit and offer comments to make it more stringent and reasonable. In fact, DEQ needs to hear from you!
Hearing details
When: Informational session at 6 p.m. Hearing at 7p.m., Thursday, April 30
Where: McMinnville Public Library Carnegie Room, 225 NW Adams St. McMinnville, OR 97128
Send written comments by mail, fax or email to (Comments due 5 p.m., Friday, May 8):
Patty Hamman, Permit Coordinator DEQ Western Region, Salem Office, 4026 Fairview Industrial Drive, Salem, OR 97302
Fax: (503) 378-4196 Email: hamman.patricia@deq.state.or.us
Get a copy of the hearing notice, which explains what the permit is supposed to cover, here.
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