Willamette Riverkeeper has filed a 60 day notice to sue against Bartels Packing. The notice documents several Clean Water Act violations by the Eugene based meat packing company located near Fern Ridge Reservoir.
Willamette Riverkeeper says Bartels butchers cattle onsite. The 60 day notice documents the discharging of blood wastes from Bartels slaughterhouse into the Fern Ridge Reservoir.
Riverkeeper Executive Director Travis Williams says, “the reason [they] sent the 60 day notice is [they] feel there is a reasonable potential for these types of violations to continue.”
Williams: “The proximity of this facility to Fern Ridge Reservoir and public waters that are utilized by people for recreation and certainly tons of bird and fish life and the history of what’s been happening at this site, really necessitated this type of step at this time, so we can bring folks to the table and figure out a way forward that is protective of the environment.”
The notice details evidence of repeated permit violations over a two year period. A call made to Bartels Packing was not immediately returned.