Eastern Oregon groundwater contamination lawsuit moves forward

PENDLETON — The lawsuit accusing the Port of Morrow, commercial farms and operators of contaminating groundwater in Oregon’s Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area can move forward. 

U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon in a ruling Friday, June 5, denied requests from defendants Port of Morrow, Lamb Weston, Portland General Electric, Columbia River Processing, Madison Ranches and Threemile Canyon Farms to dismiss the lawsuit. Simon scheduled a three-week jury trial to begin May 3, 2027.

The lawsuit accuses the Port of Morrow, Lamb Weston Holdings Inc., Madison Ranches Inc., Threemile Canyon Farms LLC, Portland General Electric Co. and Columbia River Processing LLC of generating nitrogen-polluted runoff, which renders tap water unsafe to drink for upward of 45,000 residents in Eastern Oregon. Nitrate contamination can lead to serious health problems, especially for children.