Amazon to pay $20.5 million settlement over northeast Oregon nitrate pollution

Amazon will pay $20.5 million to settle a class-action lawsuit filed by residents of Morrow and Umatilla counties in northeast Oregon. The lawsuit, Pearson v. Port of Morrow, alleges that nitrate-contaminated groundwater, which has rendered many wells unsafe for drinking, is a byproduct of fertilizer-laden wastewater from industrial food processors and data centers at the Port of Morrow. This wastewater is subsequently spread on area farms, leading to excess nitrate seeping into the groundwater. Plaintiffs Michael Pearson, Michael and Virginia Brandt, and James and Silvia Suter initiated the lawsuit in February 2024, representing thousands of affected residents. Amazon, one of 17 defendants, including entities like Lamb Weston and Portland General Electric, denies contributing to the contamination. Company spokesperson Kylee Yonas stated that groundwater issues in Eastern Oregon predated Amazon's data centers and that the settlement was made to avoid a lengthy legal battle and support the community. The company's data centers at the port use the nitrate-loaded wastewater to cool servers, further concentrating nitrates before the water is applied to farm fields. While the settlement covers Amazon, attorneys for the plaintiffs, led by Steve Berman, announced they would continue prosecuting the case against the remaining defendants and the Port of Morrow. The lawsuit also seeks an order for defendants to establish a state-backed groundwater remediation program, health monitoring for residents, and timely diagnosis and treatment for nitrate-related illnesses. This action follows promises of swift action from Governor Tina Kotek and an emergency declaration by the Morrow County Commission almost two years prior, highlighting a decades-long issue where over 634 domestic wells have unsafe nitrate levels.