Oregon’s Stella-Jones Corporation has admitted to multiple instances of environmental disregard. According to a release from the Oregon Department of Justice, the wood products manufacturer based in Sheridan, Oregon, has pleaded guilty to 10 misdemeanor counts of second-degree unlawful water pollution. The charges stem from the company’s failure to adhere to its water quality permit, leading to excessive discharge of pentachlorophenol, a hazardous chemical used in wood treatment.
The violations, documented extensively between December 2022 and March 2023, showcased a disturbing indifference to environmental protocols. “Oregonians expect businesses to follow the law and protect our environment,” Attorney General Dan Rayfield stated in a release made by the Oregon Department of Justice. He emphasized the community’s sentiments, stressing that offenders of such environmental safeguards will not slip through the system unnoticed…