Oregon Judge Shuts Down Portland Metal Recycler Over Air, Waste and Water Violations
A Multnomah County Circuit Court judge shut down a Portland metal recycler on Wednesday, finding NW Metals and its owner, Moyata Anotta, willfully violated a 2021 court order requiring air, solid waste and stormwater permits.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield confirmed that, “For years, this company ignored a court order and continued polluting the air and water in neighborhoods in Portland.”
NW Metals violated a 2021 court order requiring it to comply with Oregon’s environmental laws, specifically by operating a metal shredder without a valid air permit, failing to comply with state air quality laws, failing to obtain required solid waste permits, failing to comply with solid waste laws, and failing to comply with state water quality rules, including a required stormwater discharge permit.
In the civil contempt case filed by ODOJ on DEQ’s behalf, the court found NW Metals and Anotta in contempt of the order and barred them from operating until they complied with Oregon requirements.
Anotta has appealed to the Court of Appeals and is seeking a stay of the ruling requiring NW Metals to cease operations. ODOJ intends to oppose both.