The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has announced significant enforcement action targeting the Coffin Butte Landfill, located north of Corvallis, Oregon. This move comes after multiple compliance issues flagged over years of inspections.
This article outlines what the violations are, what the DEQ is demanding, key facts and figures, and what happens next. If you live in the region or follow environmental regulation, this is a major development.
What’s Happening and Why
The DEQ issued a pre-enforcement notice to the landfill’s operator, citing failures in critical areas such as surface emissions monitoring, landfill gas collection systems, and landfill cover integrity.
The agency reviewed reports going back to 2022 and found problems in every quarterly report, according to DEQ. The violations include:
- Inadequate gas collection and control system (GCCS) sizing
- Failure to monitor large portions of the landfill surface for methane and other emissions
- Landslide-style leaks allowed through soil cover, plant growth through the cap, and dust/fugitive emission issues
- Periods of system downtime where methane flaring did not operate properly
This enforcement action signals DEQ’s intent to hold the operator accountable and demand corrective steps within a clear timeline.
Key Facts & Figures
| Issue Category | Detail / Figure |
|---|---|
| Methane exceedances | EPA inspectors found 61 exceedances above 500 ppm methane in one inspection zone in 2022 |
| Monitoring exclusion | Landfill operator excluded large surface areas from monitoring — not approved by DEQ |
| Flare downtime | In first half of 2025, new enclosed flare offline for more than 15 calendar days |
| Cover integrity | Inspections found large plants growing through cover material and cracks present |
| Timeline for corrective action | DEQ requests permit modification by Jan 1 2026 and inspection/report by Feb 1 2026 |
Enforcement Timeline & Key Actions
| Date | Action Required | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 6, 2025 | DEQ issues pre-enforcement notice | Formalizes observed violations and begins timeline |
| Jan 1, 2026 | Submit permit modification (drone monitoring allowed) | Upgrade monitoring technologies & enhance coverage |
| Feb 1, 2026 | Submit third-party inspection of cover and dust plan | Ensure landfill cover integrity and manage fugitive dust |
| Early 2026 | Formal enforcement order / civil penalties expected | DEQ to finalize enforcement, possibly include fines |
What Are the Main Violations?
1. Surface Emissions Monitoring Failures
The landfill operator failed to monitor large portions of the landfill surface for methane and landfill gas emissions at the required frequencies and spacing. This violates both federal standards and Oregon rules.
2. Gas Collection & Control System (GCCS) Undersizing
The installed gas collection and control system at Coffin Butte has been found to handle less than the maximum expected gas generation flow rate, meaning the system may not capture or treat all collected landfill gas.
3. Landfill Cover Integrity & Dust Control
Rules require monthly inspections of the landfill’s physical cover and remediation of any cracks, vegetation breaches or penetrations.
The DEQ found instances of large plants growing through the cover material, plus complaints of fugitive dust from tipping operations.
Why This Enforcement Matters
Landfill gas, which includes methane and non-methane organic compounds, poses both environmental and public-health risks.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and mismanaged landfill gas can escape into local atmosphere, causing odour issues or potentially hazardous exposure.
The region around Coffin Butte is home to residents and ecosystems that rely on regulatory oversight to manage landfill impacts. This action shows the DEQ is stepping in to enforce stricter compliance.
The DEQ’s enforcement action against the Coffin Butte Landfill marks a significant regulatory moment in Oregon’s waste-management and environmental compliance landscape.
With serious findings around methane emissions, monitoring gaps, landfill cover failures and dust control, the operator now faces strict timelines and demanded corrective measures.
For residents, regulators, and stakeholders, this development signals heightened oversight and potential shifts in how landfill operations are managed.
Ensuring these rules are enforced not only protects the environment but safeguards community health and transparency in waste operations.