The Port of Morrow has again been fined for violating a permit that outlines how it can apply nitrogen-rich wastewater to farmland in eastern Oregon.
The latest fine, announced this month, brings the port’s continued wastewater violation penalties to $3.1 million in less than two years.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality fined the port $727,050 for more than 800 wastewater violations that contributed to groundwater contamination in Morrow and Umatilla counties from November 2023 through March of this year.
This additional fine comes after the port agreed to a settlement of $2.4 million for repeated wastewater violations in November.
FILE: Port of Morrow's East Beach Facility in Boardman, Oregon on April 15, 2022. The port has been repeatedly fined for its role in contributing to a groundwater crisis in the region.
Monica Samayoa / OPB
Groundwater pollution has been recognized as a problem for Morrow and Umatilla counties for more than three decades. Nitrates, a fertilizer used by food processing plants and farmers, have been a major culprit in the region, as overapplication seeps into the groundwater causing contamination.
Groundwater is the primary drinking water source for Morrow and Umatilla County residents. Many private wells in the area have nitrate levels four times higher than the federal government’s limit of 10 milligrams of nitrates per liter. That can cause serious health effects.
According to DEQ public affairs specialist Antony Vorobyov, the Port of Morrow’s latest fine also included penalties for several spills that occurred outside the non-growing period.
“We continue to hold the port accountable by issuing penalties when violations occur,” he said “The idea is to deter future violations and incentivize the port to minimize impact to groundwater while it constructs the necessary treatment and storage systems.”
Related: Oregon DEQ levies more fines on Port of Morrow following nitrate pollution settlement
Vorobyov said last year’s settlement agreement between DEQ and the port outlined penalties for new violations to the port’s permit.
“These stipulated penalties, for instance, they essentially were outlined in that settlement to help incentivize compliance,” he said. “So, the port will have to pay civil penalties for any future violations, with increasing amounts if the violations occur, let’s say, in medium and high-risk fields.”
Those medium and high-risk agricultural fields are near drinking water supplies and soils identified as susceptible to leaching or seeping to groundwater, Vorobyov said.
Related: Port of Morrow continues to apply excess nitrates on farmland, misses payment deadline
The port can choose to propose what’s called a Supplemental Environmental Project, which would allow 80% of its fines to go to projects that benefit community health and environment.
Officials at the port did not respond to a request for comment about the new fine or whether it plans to propose a Supplemental Environmental Project.
In its previous settlement, the port submitted an SEP for Oregon Health Authority to continue its domestic well testing program and provide drinking water to impacted residents. OHA will receive nearly $2 million over two years.
Previously, port officials said it was investing $500 million to upgrade its wastewater treatment capacity to meet DEQ’s permit requirements. That work is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
Related: Port of Morrow reaches agreement with Oregon over wastewater violations
DEQ’s Vorobyvov said it’s possible the port could still receive more permit violations until these upgrades are complete.