Oregon judge allows lawsuit over nitrate-contaminated water to proceed

An Oregon judge has ruled that a class-action lawsuit regarding nitrate-contaminated water may proceed. The suit alleges that several companies and entities knowingly polluted a shared water supply, affecting more than 46,000 residents, including approximately 10,000 children, in communities such as Boardman, Echo, Hermiston, Irrigon, and Stanfield.

The plaintiffs claim that the defendants engaged in a civil conspiracy to contaminate the water supply to reduce the costs associated with disposing of production chemicals. Named defendants include the Port of Morrow, Columbia River Processing, Portland General Electric, Threemile Canyon Farms, Madison Ranches, and Lamb Weston. While the court's decision does not confirm the allegations, it allows the case to move forward through the legal process.