The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued a record civil penalty exceeding $3 million against the operators of the Coffin Butte landfill in Benton County, Oregon, citing years of environmental violations.
State officials said the penalty — the largest ever issued by the agency — targets Valley Landfills, a subsidiary of Republic Services, which operates the landfill located north of Corvallis, Oregon.
According to an enforcement order released Wednesday, regulators allege the company committed several violations beginning in 2021, including failing to properly monitor methane emissions at the site and submitting inaccurate emissions reports to the state.
Officials also said the landfill lacked an adequate plan to regularly repair its surface covering, which helps contain gases and odors. In addition, the facility allegedly failed to install a properly sized gas collection system and did not consistently keep existing gas flares operating.
Majority of fine tied to avoided compliance costs
Regulators said more than $2.2 million of the penalty represents the costs the company allegedly avoided by not implementing required environmental safeguards.
“The landfill covers a very large area, and the violations occurred over multiple quarters and years,” said Erin Saylor, manager of the agency’s enforcement office. “Those repeated compliance failures add up.”
State orders corrective action
Along with the financial penalty, the DEQ is requiring Valley Landfills to take corrective measures. The company must submit updated plans addressing surface monitoring, dust control, gas management systems, and routine repairs to landfill coverings.
Deadlines for these improvements fall in May, June, and October. Regulators also want the company to fix surface cover issues that were identified earlier this year by an outside consultant.
Saylor said the company could potentially reduce part of the fine if it invests in improvements and takes steps to bring the landfill into compliance.
The company has 20 days to appeal the order, and regulators expect negotiations over deadlines and corrective actions to follow.
Company response
In a statement, a spokesperson for Republic Services said the company had received the enforcement notice and intends to work with state officials to resolve the issue.
Community concerns over landfill operations
The enforcement action comes after years of complaints from nearby residents about odors linked to the landfill.
The case was previously overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency before being transferred to state regulators last October.
The Benton County Board of Commissioners recently rejected a proposal to expand the landfill, citing the pending enforcement action from DEQ.
Environmental advocacy group Beyond Toxics said the fine is an important step but questioned whether it would significantly impact a large corporation like Republic Services.
Mason Leavitt, a representative of the group, said some community members remain skeptical of the company’s reporting and want regulators to take a more active oversight role.
Leave a Comment