In the winter of 2002, the Oregon Department of Human Services was advised by Deschutes County Environmental Health Department of groundwater contamination related to historical and current rendering plant activities at Redmond Tallow.
Redmond Tallow is a privately owned and operated business in central Oregon. In cooperation with county health personnel, ODHS evaluated the water sampling data, recommended additional testing, and assessed the potential for human exposure to contaminated water on the site and in nearby private wells. The main contaminant of concern is nitrate released onto the soil on the site.
Recommendations
On the basis of the sampling data and known health effects of nitrates, EHAP considers this site to be a public health risk. As further investigation into the causes and the extent of the contamination are ongoing, EHAP has made interim recommendations to personnel on the site to avoid using the drinking water system until the source of nitrate has been found and eliminated and the groundwater nitrate levels have returned to background levels.
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