SALEM, Ore. (KOIN) — A week after Oregon Governor Kate Brown ordered the Department of Environmental Quality to issue a cease and desist order against Bullseye Glass, she has ordered an extension.
On Friday, Brown issued a statement requiring DEQ to extend the order another 10 days through June 8.
The order limits the types of metals Bullseye can use in its glass-making process, including lead.
The first cease and desist order was issued after air monitoring results at a daycare center near Bullseye showed immediate, short-term health risks from lead levels.
The order extension was issued just hours after the co-owner of Bullseye Glass made an emotional appeal to the DEQ.
It happened during a committee meeting that was convened to discuss the fiscal and economic impact permanent operating rules would have for glass manufacturers like Bullseye.
“It feels like being a living cadaver,” Lani McGregor said. “We are a laboratory rat so that the DEQ and EPA can learn about our little corner of the art world.”
McGregor said the DEQ gave Bullseye Glass a deadline of noon Friday to sign a mutual agreement and order that her company felt was not only inaccurate but also “inflammatory and almost criminally indicting of us.”
Brown cited the company’s unwillingness to sign that order as part of the reason the cease and desist order was extended.
“We just need the DEQ to help us and in 116 days I’ve never seen any indication that help was on the way,” said McGregor. “All I’ve got is the same conclusion and that is nobody knows, the EPA can’t direct us, DEQ can’t direct us, they don’t understand our industry.”
McGregor says Bullseye can’t continue to operate in limbo.
“Everything is just happening so fast. We haven’t been given time, we haven’t been given any direction.”
