Oregon DEQ Environmental Enforcement Penalties - February 2026

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Filed March 30th, 2026

Detected March 30th, 2026

Summary

Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued 10 civil penalties totaling $145,903 in February 2026 for environmental violations including asbestos abatement, stormwater discharge, and hazardous waste mismanagement. Fines ranged from $1,600 to $27,785 across 10 organizations including contractors, wood products companies, paint manufacturers, and a university.

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What changed

Oregon DEQ announced enforcement actions against 10 organizations for environmental violations. Penalties included: Morales Contraction and Remodeling LLC (asbestos violations, $24,608), Northwest Real Estate Capital Corporation (asbestos violations, $27,785), Technical Waterproofing Inc. (hazardous waste, $21,300), University of Oregon (hazardous waste, $21,900), Boise Cascade Wood Products LLC (stormwater discharge, $9,600), and Rodda Paint Co. (stormwater and hazardous waste at two locations, $20,110 combined). Violations included unlicensed asbestos abatement, improper asbestos waste accumulation, turbid stormwater discharge causing creek discoloration, and improper lead-containing hazardous waste management.

Recipients must pay fines to the state treasury or file an appeal within 20 days of receiving notice. Entities may reduce penalties by funding approved supplemental environmental projects. Affected organizations should review their compliance programs for asbestos abatement, stormwater management, and hazardous waste handling, and ensure all required notices and permits are current.

What to do next

Review asbestos abatement licensing and waste management procedures
Assess stormwater management systems for compliance with water quality standards
Verify hazardous waste handling and transportation compliance

Penalties

Civil penalties ranging from $1,600 to $27,785 per violation. Total enforcement action value: $145,903 across 10 organizations.

Source document (simplified)

Press Release · March 30, 2026 DEQ issues 10 enforcement actions in February for environmental violations

Statewide, Ore. – The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued 10 penalties totaling $145,903 in February for various environmental violations. A detailed list of violations and resulting penalties is at ordeq.org/enforcement.

Fines ranged from $1,600 to $27,785. Alleged violations included contractors that performed unlicensed asbestos abatement projects, openly accumulated asbestos-containing waste and failed to complete asbestos surveys; a wood products company that discharged turbid stormwater to a creek, causing it to turn dark in color; and a university and its contractor that improperly managed and transported lead-containing hazardous waste.

DEQ issued civil penalties to the following organizations:

Airpark Development LLC, Scappoose, $1,600, water quality
Boise Cascade Wood Products, LLC, Elgin, $9,600, stormwater
Chosen Window Maintenance, Inc., Oregon City, $15,000, hazardous waste
Morales Contraction and Remodeling, LLC, Portland, $24,608, asbestos
Northwest Real Estate Capital Corporation, Coos Bay, $27,785, asbestos
Rodda Paint Co., Portland, $6,400, stormwater
Rodda Paint Co., Eugene, $13,710, hazardous waste
Rusco, Inc., Portland, $4,000, hazardous waste
Technical Waterproofing, Inc., Portland, $21,300, hazardous waste
University of Oregon, Eugene, $21,900, hazardous waste Recipients of DEQ civil penalties must either pay the fines to the state treasury or file an appeal within 20 days of receiving notice of the penalty. They may be able to offset a portion of a penalty by funding a supplemental environmental project that improves Oregon’s environment. Learn more about these projects at ordeq.org/sep.

Penalties may also include orders requiring specific tasks to prevent ongoing violations or additional environmental harm.

DEQ works with thousands of organizations and individuals to help them comply with laws that protect Oregon’s air, land and water. DEQ uses education, technical assistance, warnings and penalties to change behavior and deter future violations.

Media contact: Michael Loch, public affairs specialist, michael.loch@deq.oregon.gov, 503-737-9435.

Contacts
DEQ Communications and Outreach Michael Loch
Public Affairs
Northwest Region: Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Multnomah, Tillamook, and Washington counties
503-737-9435
https://www.oregon.gov/deq/ Categories Enforcement · Enforcement · Environment & Energy

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