Oregon farm becomes latest defendant to settle Umatilla Basin groundwater contamination lawsuit

PORTLAND, Ore. — An Oregon farm settled this week with residents of the Umatilla Basin who filed a class action lawsuit over nitrate-contaminated groundwater in the region. Madison Ranches Inc. was one of six defendants still named in the case as of Tuesday.

To settle its share, the Echo-based Madison Ranches Inc. agreed to pay $6.2 million into a settlement fund, according to Hagens Berman, one of several law firms representing the plaintiffs.

“We appreciate Madison Ranches’ commitment to the community as shown in this settlement. Rather than fighting about who made the mess, Madison Ranches stepped up to help address the nitrate pollution problem. But our work is not over,” said Steve Berman, managing partner and founder of Hagens Berman and co-counsel for the proposed class of plaintiffs.

The case will continue against five remaining defendants: the Port of Morrow, Lamb Weston, Threemile Canyon Farms (part of Tillamook Creamery), Portland General Electric and Columbia River Processing.