RE: Molalla's leaking lagoons

Cc: Richard Whitman; DECONCINI Nina; BACHMAN Jeff; rdavis@oregonian.com; jason.miner@oregon.gov; grandinetti.robert@epa.gov; PINNEY Mike

I want to provide you with a more detailed response that addresses the lagoon lining, the results of the leak test and how this will be addressed in the Mutual Agreement and Order but to do that thoroughly takes time. Due to current staff levels and a multitude of priorities, I am the person to answer your questions and I simply need a little more time to do so. I will update you by the end of this week.

To: Susan Hansen <foxglovefarm@inbox.com>; YELTON-BRAM Tiffany <tiffany.yelton-bram@state.or.us>

Cc: Richard Whitman <richard.whitman@state.or.us>; DECONCINI Nina <nina.deconcini@state.or.us>; BACHMAN Jeff <jeff.bachman@state.or.us>; rdavis@oregonian.com; jason.miner@oregon.gov; grandinetti.robert@epa.gov; PINNEY Mike <mike.pinney@state.or.us>

Please answer the question that Bear Creek Recovery is asking about what DEQ plans to do about the Molalla sewage lagoons, which, per DEQ analysis, are leaking about 173,000 gallons a day. It is now well over a year since DEQ "requested" that Molalla do a test well program and you have been non-responsive - we asked this same question below on Feb. 25. What is the plan for the leaking lagoons? Does DEQ just plan to allow them to continue to leak and ignore the potential risk to rural wells?

I keep looking for any progress on a test well plan for Molalla to prove what kind of impacts the 173,000 gallons/day of sewage that are leaking out of the unlined lagoons are causing to local groundwater and especially to rural wells. I see nothing in recent PRRs, like the one attached, that address that glaring problem. BCR called attention about 5 years ago to the water in Bear Creek in high summer/ fall in front of the sewage plant, when the rest of the creek bed was bone dry for miles up and downstream. DEQ asked for a test well program in Dec. 2016. What is the plan for protecting ground water and wells?

This request was just filed, thanks for the prompt reply on the previous request. Note this request is for the past week and specifically asks for any notes and agendas from any meeting that might have been held with City of Molalla:

All DEQ records - emails, meeting notes, documents, meeting agendas, draft MAOs, etc - related to any City of Molalla wastewater issues (compliance, plans, MAOs, permit changes, etc) from Jan. 24-Jan. 31, 2018. Please include all records in the possession of all DEQ staff related to City of Molalla wastewater in the given timeframe.

Bear Creek Recovery request a fee waiver because it works for the greater community good and uses all public information to inform the public and policy makers about the processes being used by DEQ to bring Molalla into compliance in a timely manner. We are happy to submit a fee waiver request if DEQ forwards the document.

Requester Information

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Susan Hansen

Company

Bear Creek Recovery non-profit

Address

PO Box 50 , Molalla 97038 United States

Phone

(503) 789-7179

foxglovefarm@inbox.com

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