Press Release
June 15, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:
Mark Riskedahl (503) 750-5533
Brent Foster (503) 544-8274
Melissa Powers (503) 768-6727

California Polluter Brings Illegal Discharges to Oregon's Columbia River: Conservation Groups Fight Back

Astoria, OR - The Northwest Environmental Defense Center (NEDC), Columbia Riverkeeper (CRK) and the Pacific Environmental Advocacy Center (PEAC) sent formal notice today that they intend to file suit seeking over $30 million in fines against two California companies with a history of water pollution violations. The companies have been illegally dumping large quantities of contaminated chicken waste into the Columbia River from the Pt. Adams processing facility just west of Astoria. Two California based companies, California Spray Dry and Modesto Tallow, have been dumping chicken waste from the Pt. Adams processing plant for approximately the last eight months without any state or federal permit that allows discharge of the waste. These discharges constitute both criminal and civil violations of federal Clean Water Act and Oregon law. After NEDC contacted the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency about the violations, EPA enforcement agents, armed with a federal search warrant, raided the Pt. Adams facility last week.

"It's incredible that these guys thought they could just move up to Oregon from California and start illegally dumping massive amounts of chicken waste into the Columbia River," says NEDC Executive Director, Mark Riskedahl. "We know that Modesto Tallow was fined over $600,000 and had a plant manager sentenced to a year in jail for similar violations at a plant in California, but it looks like they still have not learned their lesson."

Brent Foster, attorney for Columbia Riverkeeper agrees. "This is basically a midnight dumping operation except that they were dumping in the middle of the day," asserts Foster. "Given the public health threats associated with these pollutants, including enteroccocus, fecal coliform and E. coli, and the adverse effects of this waste on water quality, our goal is to see these discharges stop immediately."

The Pt. Adams facility has a permit that allows for some discharges of waste from fish processing, but Modesto Tallow was specifically informed by Oregon DEQ that they would need a new permit before they could discharge anything other than seafood processing byproducts. Nonetheless, the company has been receiving and processing chicken waste from Foster Farms in Kelso, Washington.

"You don't often see the type of blatant deceit that has happened here," explained attorney Melissa Powers, with the Pacific Environmental Advocacy Center who is representing NEDC. "Point Adams informed DEQ that it would not be discharging anything from October, 2003, until this June, but then apparently started its illegal discharges right after that. We're encouraged that EPA is taking these violations seriously, but we think that a citizen suit is also necessary to stop this illegal conduct.

Dave, I think it's great to have someone like you on this board to keep us informed of all the bad things that happen.
I've been waiting for some good news from you. LOL

Mr. Veddar: Can you please provide a link to this news story? I would like to follow up on this story as IMO, poultry processors have been getting away with murder in the entire country for many years. I have no intention of starting a political debate but again,IMO, we can't rely on the EPA to rectify this apparent violation. Perhaps, as the article suggests a citezen's suit may be necessary if it appears the alleged perpetrator is guilty.

I ain't no "greenie" but that river is mine just as everyone's. To hear of it being used as a sewer for the profit of a few makes me cringe.

Respectfully, satiago

Charr: I thought that WAS good news!

Santiago: I posted the entire press release. Maybe a search would find more.

Now THAT'S just chicken****!

The sad thing here is that Oregon's DEQ, charged with enforcing these laws, has become such an enfeebled, emasculated agency that they can't rouse themselves to take action in what appears to be a pretty gross violation of our clean water laws; leaving the job up to little advocacy groups like the ones listed. Go slay that Goliath, little Davids!!!

Yes, GaryK, all the more reason they need our support.

As advised, I did a search looking for a source of the article above. I'll be the first to admit my searching skills are inferior to an idiot but after searching NEDC, PEAC, California Spray Dry, Modesto Tallows, the Astoria newspaper and finally Columbia Riverkeeper I could not find any information relating to the article.

Nevertheless, I did learn quite a bit about a myriad of issues probably more dire than a little spilled chicken blood.

Thanks Dave for bringing this article to my attention