Amazon to Pay $20.5 Million in Settlement of Class Action Suit Over Pollution in Eastern Oregon

Amazon has reached a $20.5 million class action settlement with residents of Eastern Oregon regarding alleged water pollution from its data centers. This marks the first time a major tech company has paid damages in connection with public health threats linked to its data center operations. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Pendleton, represents six residents from the Lower Umatilla Basin, which provides drinking water for up to 45,000 people in Morrow and Umatilla Counties. While nitrate pollution in the basin predates Amazon's presence, experts claim the company's 13 data centers, which began operations in Morrow County in 2011, have accelerated the contamination by discharging millions of gallons of cooling water annually into the groundwater system. Amazon denies any wrongdoing, stating in the filing that it has not contributed to water contamination and is settling solely to avoid the costs of litigation. The settlement funds will be allocated to two primary initiatives: supporting private well projects to access deeper, less contaminated water for residents whose drinking water exceeds state nitrate limits, and underwriting public water system projects for treatment and distribution of cleaner water. Community members like former county commissioner Jim Doherty and local resident Kathy Mendoza expressed disappointment with the settlement amount, deeming it insufficient given the severity and scope of the pollution problem and its alleged health impacts, including links to cancer and debilitating conditions.