Geri Sundvall with the Environmental Action Justice Group says it's no surprise that the company's plant is located near some of the city's poorest residents. But when you're in a community where there are poor people who many people think have no power and it seems to be fine to put all of these different organizations and industries here in this neighborhood because they don't think the people are gonna speak up. Oregon Steel spokeswoman Vickie Tagliafico. I think they would be the first ones to tell us about it. Jim Jontz is with the Alliance for Sustainable Jobs and the Environment, accuses Oregon Steel of choosing not to upgrade their facility to meet new pollution regulations.
Companies have choices about their policies.
We're filing suit against Oregon Steel with the Steelworkers and EJAG, because Oregon Steel has chosen to pollute the air of this community rather than to invest in the new equipment and proper procedures that would cut their emissions and allow them to meet all the applicable clean air standards. Oregon Steel's Vickie Tagliafico says her company is comfortable its environmental record will stand up to scrutiny. We have just received the letter and are really still in the process of evaluating it. The have noted emissions that were voluntarily reported to us and corrected by us. Though she admits, some of the equipment that has not been upgraded, is subject to less stringent requirements.