Glass company expresses confusion after DEQ request to quit chromium use
PORTLAND, Ore. — State officials officially announced Friday that two glass companies have suspended the use of hexavalent chromium, cadmium and arsenic after high levels of two of those metals were detected in Southeast Portland's air.
But one of those companies said it is "confused" over the Department of Environmental Quality's actions.
Bullseye Glass Co. in Southeast Portland and Uroboros in North Portland agreed to stop using the metals after the DEQ and the Oregon Health Authority asked them to do so on Thursday, the agencies said.
Earlier this week, Bullseye had said that it had stopped using cadmium and arsenic. Uroboros also said it had stopped using cadmium. According to the state, Uroboros doesn't use arsenic.
After the state's news conference and press release Friday afternoon, Bullseye said in a statement that company officials have "expressed confusion over the latest in a series of events undertaken by the DEQ this week."
The company said Dick Pedersen, the director of DEQ, called a company employee Thursday afternoon "with a personal request" that the company cease using chromium, which the company said is essential to its business. But the company said the DEQ didn't provide any evidence that Bullseye was a significant source of chromium.
"We are committed to doing the right thing," the company said. "We are concerned that DEQ's frantic actions could put us out of business and cause 140 people to lose their jobs."
The company said it is continuing to work with the DEQ.
State officials said there was uncertainty about the chromium compound emissions, but the DEQ asked the companies to suspend its use as well.
The Department of Environmental Quality announced last week that tests found high levels of arsenic and cadmium near Southeast 22nd and Powell. They later released a map that shows the levels extend from Southeast Woodstock to Northeast Killingsworth.
State officials said Friday that it is working to formalize the agreements with the two companies.
They also said the DEQ has requested Material Safety Data Sheets from the companies to determine their use of all metal compounds used this week.
The DEQ said it has stepped up its air monitoring and started soil sampling in Southeast Portland. It said it has similar plans in the works for North Portland.
A community meeting hosted by the Multnomah County Health Department and Portland Public Schools is scheduled at Tubman Middle School on Thursday, Feb. 18 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.