EUGENE, Ore. — ODOT has been fined more than $15,000 by the state Department of Environmental Quality.
The DEQ says ODOT violated its water pollution permit for its work on the Gettings Creek Rest Area on I-5, just south of Eugene.
The penalties cover five violations between 2004 and 2011. DEQ discovered the violations through a review of ODOT’s discharge monitoring reports. One of those includes failing to collect monthly nitrate samples from drinking water wells at the rest area.
ODOT says this area has been a challenge for a while and it takes the violation very seriously. It says there is no public health threat associated with the system problems.
“It was not a total shock that we received fines on it. It’s unfortunate that we did, and like I said, we have had some problems with the septic system for quite a long time and we have been trying to address them as best we can,” said Lou Torres, ODOT spokesman.
ODOT can appeal the penalties. It has until August 9 to do so. ODOT says to its knowledge this is a frist time its been fined for the Gettings Creek Rest Area.
