DEQ fines city of La Pine $1,125 over late reports

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality said Monday it has issued a $1,125 penalty to the city of La Pine for failing to submit timely discharge monitoring reports as required under its Water Pollution Control Facilities permit.

The city sends treated wastewater to a number of aerated lagoons located at 16800 Reed Road in La Pine. The permit for this facility requires the city to submit monthly wastewater monitoring reports by the 15th day of each month.

The city has been chronically late in submitting the reports, missing the deadline on 17 occasions between March 2011 and July 2014, the agency said.

DEQ said it issued the penalty “because the reports are an important tool used to monitor the effectiveness of the city’s wastewater treatment. The reports also help determine whether the recycled water generated from the facility is safe.”

The city has until October 22 to appeal the penalty.