May 2022
DEQ received a hazardous waste permit renewal application from CWM on May 2, 2022.
What happens next: DEQ is reviewing the application for completeness. If DEQ determines the application is complete, DEQ will begin drafting a permit renewal. Once drafted, DEQ will make the draft permit available for public review and will host a public hearing to accept verbal and written comments on the conditions of the draft permit. DEQ will review and respond to all comments received by the comment deadline and may revise the draft permit based on comments.
After the public comment period, if the permit conditions meet all requirements of the U.S. EPA and the State of Oregon, DEQ will recommend the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission approve the hazardous waste permit renewal. The Environment Quality Commission makes the ultimate decision on whether to issue the hazardous waste permit renewal.
March 2022
CWM to host public information meeting for proposed permit renewal
CWM notified DEQ on March 10, 2022, that it plans to submit a hazardous waste permit renewal application.
CWM hosted a public information meeting prior to submitting its permit renewal application to DEQ. DEQ staff attended the meeting and was available for questions about DEQ's permitting process.
December 2021
DEQ approves hazardous waste permit modification for additional storage unit
DEQ approved a Class 2 permit modification for Chemical Waste Management of the Northwest on Dec. 16, 2021, following a 60-day public comment period. The permit modification allows CWM to add a container storage unit at its hazardous waste Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility in Arlington. The additional storage unit expands the facility's waste storage capacity.
CWM hosted a virtual public information meeting via Zoom on Oct. 21, 2021, to discuss the proposal and answer questions. DEQ hazardous waste staff also attended the meeting to answer questions and provide information about next steps. DEQ received no official public comments on the proposed permit modification. DEQ received comments from EPA Region 10 as part of an interdepartmental agreement and in response made changes to the permit and attachments.
Find additional permit information and records in Your DEQ Online, Project Number: 6321
September 2021
Proposed hazardous waste permit modification for additional container storage unit
Chemical Waste Management, also known as CWM, is proposing to modify its hazardous waste permit to add a container storage unit at the company's Arlington Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility. This is to address a shortage of storage capacity and new contracts recently awarded to the company.
This is a different permit modification proposal than the one DEQ provided an update about in March 2021. That proposal would have expanded CWM's landfill capacity by adding an additional landfill unit to address emerging pollutants. CWM still plans to add an additional landfill unit to handle both general hazardous waste and emerging pollutants, but the project and permit modification application for the expansion is delayed while CWM works to obtain land use compatibility approval from Gilliam County.
March 2021
DEQ anticipates receiving hazardous waste permit modification application
Chemical Waste Management, known as CWM, has notified DEQ it’s seeking to modify its Arlington landfill permit to add a new disposal unit that would expand its capacity to properly dispose of hazardous waste and chemicals of emerging concern. The facility has an existing landfill unit that accepts this kind of waste and anticipates needing additional capacity.
Much of the waste would arrive in the form of contaminated soil from large-scale cleanup operations occurring at former industrial sites including Superfund sites, firefighting training centers and military sites. Contaminants would include PFAS, a component of some firefighting foams and many consumer goods.
The facility would build the landfill unit to the same hazardous waste specifications as its existing units, including a triple-lined system that protects against groundwater contamination.
When DEQ receives the permit modification application, DEQ will analyze the application to ensure it meets DEQ and EPA hazardous waste requirements and Oregon environmental laws and regulations.
As part of this process, DEQ will work with CWM to hold a public information meeting (date TBD) and request comments on the permit application. DEQ will review the comments and draft the permit modification. Once the permit modification is drafted, DEQ will hold a public hearing and request comments on the draft permit modification.