Nitrate Contamination in Eastern Oregon Drinking Water Leads to $20.5 Million Settlement With Amazon

A $20.5 million settlement has been reached with Amazon Data Services (ADS), concerning allegations that its data center operations contributed to nitrate contamination in Morrow and Umatilla counties.

A motion for preliminary approval of the settlement was filed yesterday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, Pendleton Division.

The contamination posed significant health and environmental concerns for thousands of residents, states Hagens Berman and its co-counsel, Bliven Law Firm, and Heenan & Cook.

A Similar Class-Action Lawsuit Has Been Brought Against Six Other Parties

Although ADS denied the allegations, the attorneys state that Amazon nevertheless took the first step toward solving the nitrate pollution problem, and the settlement comes on the heels of a similar class-action lawsuit.

The same law firms have brought a suit accusing the Port of Morrow, Lamb Weston Holdings, Madison Ranches, Threemile Canyon Farms, Portland General Electric, and Columbia River Processing of contaminating the region by generating or dumping large volumes of wastewater containing large volumes of nitrates into the LUBGWMA – Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area.

The parties that contributed to the problem have a responsibility to resolve the issue, says Steve Berman, managing partner and co-counsel of the proposed class-action on behalf of plaintiffs.

LUBGWMA Consists of 562 Square Miles and is Home to 45,000 Residents

LUBGWMA is a 562-square-mile region in northern Morrow and Umatilla counties, an area that is home to 45,000 residents.

According to Berman, the region features thousands of private wells whose tap water is contaminated with nitrates, rendering it unsafe to drink.

The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief, compensatory damages, and the creation of a medical monitoring program to diagnose and treat illnesses associated with exposure to excessive nitrates.

Settlement Funds Will Support Private and Public Projects to Improve Access to Clean Water

Settlement funds will be allocated to upgrade private wells and enhance public infrastructure within the LUBGWMA, ensuring property owners, renters, and the broader community have improved access to safe, clean water.

Here is what the official nitrate bands mean for households:

Residents do not need to take any action at this stage, as a settlement website will be established by a court-appointed administrator if the court grants preliminary approval of the settlement.

Eligible residents will be notified with more information.