DEQ fines wood treatment facility $223K over violations

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — The state has fined a Eugene wood treatment plant more than $223,000 for hazardous waste and water quality violations that regulators say happened over the last five years. The Register-Guard reports the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued J.H. Baxter & Co. $223,440 in fines Wednesday for alleged violations that included the illegal treatment of 1.7 million gallons of hazardous waste between 2015-19 and two unpermitted discharges of untreated storm water in 2019. Company president Georgia Baxter said in a statement the company will continue to work diligently to protect human health and the environment.