DEQ issues $5,224 penalty to the US Postal Service for failing to monitor stormwater at Portland facility

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued a $5,224 penalty to the U.S. Postal Service for violating the terms of the DEQ-issued stormwater permit assigned to the Postal Service’s mail processing and distribution center located at 918 NW Park Ave. in Portland, Ore.

DEQ issued the penalty because the Postal Service failed to conduct required testing for pollutants in stormwater flowing from the property between the months of July and December 2012. Facilities like the Postal Service’s processing and distribution center are required to sample and monitor stormwater runoff to ensure the discharge meets water quality benchmarks contained in the permit. Failure to meet these benchmarks may indicate the presence of harmful levels of industrial pollutants that could enter the Willamette River. Without testing it is impossible to determine whether or not action needs to be taken to prevent harm to aquatic life and river habitat and to protect public health.

USPS was given a deadline of  Dec. 23, 2013 to appeal the penalty.