Northwest Metals (an auto scrapping facility) is attempting to re-start operations at a new site at 9537 N Columbia Boulevard. The company is currently under a court injunction prohibiting it from operating due to flagrant and dangerous activity at its former Cully site. Among other concerns, the facility in Cully was the site of a massive fire in 2018 that destroyed a duplex and two small homes, displacing several families, and blanketing the neighborhood in toxic black smoke for days. In addition, local schools were evacuated and many family pets were killed or had to be rescued.

The court order stipulates that the company may not begin operating until it obtains an air permit from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. The state has commenced proceedings to issue a permit, though extended the public comment period to February 2021, because of significant concern from the community.  We demand that DEQ refuse to issue a permit to this polluter given the following factors: 

1. The operator of this business has a long history of creating significant risk to neighbors and the environment by flouting  environmental regulations. NW Metals was cited for nine violations of environmental law including improper hazardous waste and tire storage, Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act violations in association with the fire. The operator installed and was operating a vehicle shredder without notifying or seeking a permit from the state. In addition, this facility has been the focus of numerous unaddressed water quality issues. 
2. The operator has outstanding unpaid penalties and a history of acting in bad faith. After enforcement action by DEQ, no payment has been made toward the $77,419 in penalties owed. The operator did not complete required cleanup activities or action to ensure compliance with environmental laws on schedule. DEQ was forced to obtain a Temporary Restraining Order and threaten the operator with jail time in order to compel NW Metals to perform cleanup and apply for a permit for the vehicle shredder prior to continuing to operate. The operator continued to operate the shredder illegally until March 4, 2020, recklessly disregarding both environmental regulations and public health. 
3. This facility will put vulnerable people at greater risk. This new NW Metals site would be operating adjacent to Sitton Elementary, a Title I school, that serves a low income and BIPOC population, as well as George Middle School. Children are especially sensitive receptors to air pollution. The site is also near Chimney Park, a popular location for community recreation, as well as apartments that house more than two thousand of St. John's lower income residents. BIPOC and low income communities are already disproportionately impacted by poor air quality, especially diesel pollution.  Multnomah County Department of Health conducted a 2014 study of racial and ethnic health disparities and found that communities of color are exposed to levels of diesel pollution 2-3 times higher than their white counterparts. Thirty-six percent of residents of the area are BIPOC. Columbia Boulevard is already inundated with many indirect sources of pollution from traffic, trains and industry. Adding another source of pollution to this cumulative impact will result in significant harm to community health.