OREGON COAL ASH DISPOSAL, CONTAMINATION AND REGULATORY GAPS

The Boardman facility in Morrow County, operated by Portland General Electric Co, generates 99,900 tons of coal combustion waste annually. Between 1985 and 2010, 794,700 tons of coal ash were disposed of onsite. Hazardous contaminants, including selenium, vanadium, and total dissolved solids, have leached into groundwater, exceeding Oregon and EPA standards since 1981, affecting water used for commercial irrigation and supply.

• The Boardman facility generates 99,900 tons of coal combustion waste (CCW) annually, placing Oregon 43rd in the United States for coal ash generation.
• Between 1985 and 2010 (excluding 2006 and 2007), 794,700 tons of coal ash were disposed of onsite at the Boardman coal-fired power plant.
• Groundwater at the Boardman Plant has exceeded Oregon groundwater standards and EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels since 1981, with recent monitoring showing continued violations for total dissolved solids, vanadium, and selenium in water used for water supply and commercial irrigation.

APA

Earthjustice (n.d.). OREGON COAL ASH DISPOSAL, CONTAMINATION AND REGULATORY GAPS. https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/or-coal-ash-factsheet-0512.pdf

Chicago

Earthjustice. OREGON COAL ASH DISPOSAL, CONTAMINATION AND REGULATORY GAPS. n.d. https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/or-coal-ash-factsheet-0512.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Earthjustice |title=OREGON COAL ASH DISPOSAL, CONTAMINATION AND REGULATORY GAPS |url=https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/or-coal-ash-factsheet-0512.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{earthjusticendoregon, author = {{Earthjustice}}, title = {{OREGON COAL ASH DISPOSAL, CONTAMINATION AND REGULATORY GAPS}}, institution = {Earthjustice}, url = {https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/or-coal-ash-factsheet-0512.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }