Covanta Marion (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter)

The state’s environmental regulator announced Friday it had issued a $15,700 fine to Covanta Marion, the county’s garbage incinerator, for an air quality violation.

Covanta’s fine was one of 12 civil penalties that the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued in January.

Covanta’s state-issued operating permit requires that non-emergency use of its fire pump be limited to 50 hours a year. In 2020, it operated the fire pump for 275 hours, according to a notice the state sent Covanta on Jan. 28.

One of their waste combustor units also on May 22, 2021, emitted around three times the amount of carbon monoxide emissions than their permit allowed.

Nicolle Robles, spokeswoman for Covanta, said in an email Friday that “the penalty has been paid” but did not otherwise provide a comment.

Those facing fines must pay them or file an appeal within 20 days of receiving notice of the penalty.  

“They may be able to offset a portion of a penalty by funding a supplemental environmental project that improves Oregon’s environment,” DEQ wrote in a news release Friday.

The Marion County Board of Commissioners voted in June 2021 to approve a three-year contract with Covanta Marion firm as the previous contract expired.

Located in Brooks and run by a New Jersey-based firm, Covanta Marion burns Marion County’s garbage and imported medical waste, creating steam that generates electrical power that’s sold to Portland General Electric.

-Ardeshir Tabrizian

By Salem Reporter