Settlement ends Schnitzer Steel environmental standoff

Company will upgrade facilities to avoid legal fight with Northwest Environmental Defense Center

By Jim Redden

The Portland Tribune, Apr 22, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

A settlement has been between Schnitzer Steel Industries and the Northwest Environmental Defense Center over stormwater runoff from the company’s North Portland facility.

The center, which is based at the Lewis & Clark law school, had threatened to sue the company for violating federal clean water laws by allowing pollution from scrap metal operations to flow into the Willamette River.

In the settlement announced Wednesday, Schnitzer promised to spend $1.6 million upgrading stormwater management system at the facility by the end of the summer. Schnitzer spokesman Tom Zelenka said the company had already been discussing the work with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, the state agency that has allowed the water to be discharged into the Willamette River for years.

“Even though the economy is bad, we have committed to go ahead with our planned work,” said Zelenka.

Among other things, the company will consolidate the number of outflow pipes that currently enter the river so that the stormwater can be better treated before it is released.

The company also agreed to contribute $90,000 to a stormwater runoff study being conducted by the United State Geological Survey and $10,000 to a national river watchers organization.

Center Executive Director Mark Riskedahl praised the company for committing to the improvements, despite the recession that has reduced the value of the scrap metal it recycles.

“Given the economic climate, I’m really impressed they committed to do it,” he said.

The center had threatened to sue the company in December. According to Riskedahl, the center’s research showed the company was in violation of its DEQ permit, which required compliance with federal clean water laws.

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