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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (June 22, 2022)
HERMISTON HERALD Wednesday, June 22, 2022 Oregon DEQ raises Port of Morrow fine to over $2.1 million Local businesses offer help at Boardman Foods to deal with groundwater emergency Hermiston Herald Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has increased the penalty against the Port of Mor- row from $1.3 million to a little more than $2.1 million. State environmental regulators levied the initial fines in January, accusing the port of excessively spreading nitrogen-rich wastewater as fertilizer on area farmland for years. DEQ announced in a statement Friday, June 17, the additional $800,000 is “for additional violations involving over appli- cation of wastewater containing nitrogen to ag- ricultural fields in the Lower Umatilla Basin, an area with longstanding groundwater contamina- tion.” The Port of Morrow has been appealing the $1.3 million in fines. “The Port of Morrow recognizes groundwater contamination is a serious problem, and has been for decades,” port Executive Director Lisa Mittels- dorf said. “The port believes this is a community problem that will require a community solution. By the DEQ’s own analysis, the port’s industrial wastewater reuse program is responsible for less than 5% of the area’s nitrates. We will continue to work with DEQ to collaborate on a solution that will address what happens to industrial wastewa- ter during winter months without shutting down the industries generating that wastewater.” According to the statement from DEQ, the Port of Morrow is one of many sources contributing to nitrate contamination in northern Morrow and Umatilla counties — an area known as the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area. The primary source of contamination in the area, about 70%, is from fertilizer used on irri- gated farmland, according to the management ar- ea’s action plan. Additional contributors are dairy and cattle farms (about 20%), food processing facilities, such as the port that reuse wastewater to irrigate fields (about 5%) and residential septic systems and other sources (about 5%). HermistonHerald.com EasternOregonMarketplace.com AT THE SUMMIT BY ERICK PETERSON • Hermiston Herald For anyone wanting to meet some of Oregon’s most influential government leaders, the 2022 Eastern Oregon Economic Summit was the place to be. MAKING FRIENDS MERKLEY SPEAKS CANDIDATES COURTING VOTERS Oregon legislators praise bipartisanship. A10 Senator sees a federal role in solving local issues. A11 Gubernatorial hopefuls address potential voters. A12 Betsy Johnson meets locals at Hermiston restaurant. A13 Local officials and business owners gather Friday morning, June 17, 2022, at the Eastern Oregon Economic Summit in Hermiston. See, DEQ/Page A7 Yasser Marte/Hermiston Herald LIGHTER SIDE “Three Minutes with...” Teres Fair opines on Echo and family.. A2 LOCAL NEWS Ready for wheelies The Eastern Oregon Women’s Coali- tion organized the event, which took place Thursday and Friday, June 16 and 17. State Representative Bobby Levy is the presi- dent of the group, and she is one of the five founding members. “I’m really excited,” she said. “This is one of the dreams that we had.” According to Levy, 300 people paid ahead of the event so they could attend. She esti- mated on Friday that 250 individuals were present that morning. Hermiston Assistant City Manager Mark Morgan was among the attendees. “I think it’s awesome,” he said. “Hats off to the Eastern Oregon Women’s Coalition for the amazing work they’ve done.” Morgan said he was excited to see many state legislators, a U.S. senator and two of three gubernatorial candidates at the event. These people didn’t just travel to town, go to the summit and leave, Morgan stated. Rather, the legislators toured the area, vis- ited local businesses and met residents. Maybe it was enough to give them a good picture of the region and its potential, he said. He added that such events might not have seemed very special prior to the pandemic. Now that we have experienced isolation, he said, people have a sense that gatherings are Yasser Marte/Hermiston Herald State Rep. Bobby Levy of Echo, left, and co-founder of Eastern Oregon’s Women Coalition, discusses the future of Eastern Oregon on Friday, June 17, 2022, at the Eastern Oregon Economic Summit. Levy and the coalition organized the event at Hermiston High School. Among those attending were Hermiston Assistant City Manager Mark Morgan, center, and Oregon’s U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, right. important; this is how we know one another and the issues we all face. According to Morgan, he plans to tell the Hermiston City Council about his experi- ence at the summit. He stated that he had already been in reg- ular contact with Hermiston Mayor David Drotzmann, texting him during the sum- mit. In these conversations, according to Morgan, Drotzmann said he had met with Sen. Jeff Merkley while the senator was in town. Morgan said he had met at least one well- known politician, too. He visited with gu- bernatorial candidate Betsy Johnson during the summit. “I made sure she got a ‘thank you’ for coming to Hermiston and getting her boots on the ground out here,” Morgan said. “I think that it’s important that when you have these people in town that you actually go out there and talk to them.” Visit eowc.biz for more information on the EOWC and the EOES. Umatilla students build wheelchair for 6-year-old boy. A3 COMMUNITY EDUCATION OUTSKIRTS EASTERN OREGON Landing Days Big plans set for Umatilla event. A6 Carnegie Hall Echo Economic Summit Hermiston students perform in New York City. A8 Market attracts people for fun, food and commerce. A9 Visiting legislators meet locals and tour the region. A10-13