PORTLAND, Ore. — A roofing company is being hit with a $2.1-million penalty for air quality violations, the largest fine the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has issued to date.
According to a release from the department, Malarkey Roofing Products in north Portland received the penalty for air quality violations spanning 10 years. After confirming that emissions were beyond what the company's permit allowed in 2019, Malarkey installed pollution controls in July 2020.
In 2009, Malarkey modified one of its emissions units, but did not notify DEQ. In 2018, Malarkey notified DEQ that its formaldehyde emissions may be higher than previously thought, and confirmed the elevated emissions through source testing in 2019. DEQ determined Malarkey was in violation of environmental law for operating for 10 years without a required Title V air quality permit and without proper pollution control equipment.
“As soon as DEQ became aware of the modification, we followed up to confirm the emission levels and get pollution controls installed,” said Matt Hoffman, DEQ Northwest Region Air Quality Manager.