Oregon Public Broadcasting

The federal government levied more than $3 million in fines on Northwest companies, state agencies, and cities over the past year.  Pete Springer reports.

Region ten of the Environmental Protection Agency covers Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska.

EPA compliance and enforcement director Mike Bussell says the EPA worked closely with agencies in those states to inspect a number of sectors.

Mike Bussell: “Everything from mining operations all the way to municipalities that are struggling to  keep their sewage treatment facilities in compliance.  So it’s a broad range.”

Bussell says the EPA is focused on bigger facilities that may be violating the Clean Air Act, and also on stormwater run-off, animal feedlot operations, and mineral extraction.

The goal is to reduce pollution.

In Oregon, fines totaling more than $400,000 were assessed this past year, while $45 million was spent on pollution control and clean-up.

Overall, EPA fines and penalties in the Northwest were down from previous years.