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Resident tells council DEQ found stormwater violations at two St. Helens industrial sites; council to meet with DEQ
Summary
A resident, Sarah Zuber, told the council that DEQ enforcement actions identified construction and permit violations at a veneer plant and the Boise mill site, citing neglected stormwater controls and estimated penalties; staff noted a scheduled DEQ meeting and agreed to brief council.
Sarah Zuber, who identified herself as a St. Helens resident during public comment, described two DEQ enforcement matters involving stormwater: a construction-permit issue at a veneer plant and alleged long-term neglect of an established stormwater-treatment system at a Boise mill site. She said sediments likely left the sites, causing turbidity in the river, and that DEQ assessed penalties in the neighborhood of $33,000 for the combined matters.
Zuber said she had reported concerns to the city in September 2023 and that monthly inspections and routine maintenance were not performed at the mill site for at least three years. She urged that the issue be handled in public rather than in executive session and questioned whether the city requested a DEQ hearing within the 20-day window available to contest violations. “I don't know if you took a timely response within 20 days to ask for a hearing,” she said, and urged council to publicly address the matter.
City staff agreed the item needed follow-up. The city administrator said staff will meet with DEQ to discuss the alleged violations and that a meeting on Dec. 15 with DEQ is planned. Council members asked to be informed of timeline and status so they can respond to constituent calls and to ensure transparency in communications.
Ending: Staff scheduled a meeting with DEQ and were asked to brief council members on findings and next steps; no formal council action was taken during the work session.
