Contempt Motion Against NW Metals Owner for Environmental Violations

Oregon AG News & Media Releases

Filed April 6th, 2026

Detected April 7th, 2026

Summary

Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield filed a contempt motion in Multnomah County Circuit Court against Moyata Anotta, President of NW Metals Inc., for alleged violations of a 2021 permanent court injunction requiring compliance with Oregon environmental law. The state alleges NW Metals has operated without required air quality, solid waste, and stormwater permits at its current Portland location and illegally disposed of solid waste at its former site. DEQ previously issued a $357,461 civil penalty on November 4, 2025. A contempt hearing is scheduled for April 29, 2026.

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What changed

The Oregon Department of Justice has escalated enforcement against NW Metals Inc. and its president Moyata Anotta by filing a contempt motion alleging continued violations of a 2021 permanent court injunction. The state alleges the company has operated since 2024 without required air quality, solid waste, and stormwater permits at its N Commercial Avenue location, and has illegally disposed of solid waste at its former Columbia Boulevard site. These allegations follow a history of enforcement actions including a 2018 five-alarm fire that forced over 145 residents from their homes.

For affected parties including scrapyard operators and metal recycling businesses, this action signals aggressive enforcement of environmental compliance orders by Oregon DEQ and the AG's office. Companies operating industrial facilities must ensure all required permits are current and in compliance with court-ordered injunctions. The $357,461 penalty already assessed demonstrates significant financial exposure for environmental violations, and contempt proceedings may result in additional daily penalties. Businesses in similar industries should audit their permit status and environmental compliance programs immediately.

What to do next

Respond to contempt motion before April 29, 2026 court date
Cease operations without valid DEQ permits immediately
Obtain required air quality, solid waste, and stormwater permits or cease relevant operations

Penalties

$357,461 civil penalty issued by DEQ on November 4, 2025; additional monetary penalties possible if found in contempt of court

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AG Rayfield Asks Court to Schedule Hearing to Hold Portland Scrapyard Owner in Contempt for Repeated Environmental Violations

April 6, 2026 • Posted in Media Release
Attorney General Dan Rayfield today announced that the Oregon Department of Justice has filed a motion asking a Multnomah County Circuit Court judge to schedule a contempt hearing for Moyata “Mo” Anotta, President of NW Metals Inc. in Portland, on behalf of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The motion alleges Anotta violated a 2021 permanent court injunction requiring the company to comply with Oregon environmental law.

“Mr. Anotta has already watched a fire at one of his scrapyards send toxic smoke over a residential neighborhood and force more than 145 of his neighbors from their homes,” said Attorney General Rayfield. “A court ordered him to follow the law and he didn’t. The people living near his operation deserve clean air, clean water, and a neighbor who follows the rules — and we are going to use every tool available to make sure that happens.”

“Businesses that repeatedly violate our environmental safety and air quality standards put Oregon communities at risk, and when a court orders compliance, that order must be taken seriously,” Governor Tina Kotek said. “The history of violations tied to NW Metals — including the 2018 fire that forced families from their homes — is exactly why accountability matters. I applaud Attorney General Rayfield’s work to enforce the law and protect the health and safety of the people living near any site operated by this disreputable owner.”

In 2021, the State of Oregon and NW Metals Inc. entered into a stipulated permanent injunction requiring the company to comply with Oregon’s air quality, solid waste and water quality laws — and prohibiting it from operating a metal shredder without a valid air permit from the DEQ.

The injunction followed years of enforcement actions against NW Metals, including a DEQ civil penalty and order following a 2018 five-alarm fire at the company’s former Cully neighborhood scrapyard that sent toxic smoke billowing over a residential area and forced the evacuation of more than 145 nearby residents.

Despite that court order, ODOJ alleges that Anotta has continued to operate in violation of the injunction. The state alleges NW Metals has operated without required air quality, solid waste, and stormwater permits at its current location on N Commercial Avenue in Portland, where it has operated since 2024. The state also alleges that NW Metals illegally disposed of solid waste at its former location on N Columbia Boulevard in Portland without a solid waste permit.

Specifically, the state alleges that NW Metals has:

Operated a metal shredder without a valid DEQ air permit
Operated an unpermitted waste disposal site
Stored waste tires, inoperable vehicles and vehicle parts, and other solid waste materials at a location not permitted to receive solid waste
Unlawfully discharged stormwater from its operations to Portland’s stormwater system without a required stormwater permit On Nov. 4, 2025, DEQ issued a $357,461 civil penalty and order to comply » to NW Metals for these alleged violations. NW Metals has requested a contested case hearing regarding that order.

Monday’s filing asked the court to schedule a contempt hearing at a later date – which has been set for April 29, 2026. If the court finds him in contempt, the state may seek monetary penalties, attorney fees, and court-ordered supervision of the facility.

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