Oregon Woman Sentenced After 500,000 Gallons of Toxic Waste Dumped Into Sewer System

PORTLAND, Ore. (May. 28, 2026) — A Troutdale woman has been sentenced to federal prison for conspiring to illegally discharge roughly 500,000 gallons of industrial wastewater contaminated with hazardous chemicals and heavy metals into the Hillsboro sanitary sewer system, federal prosecutors said.

Kayla Hartley, 36, was sentenced to five months in federal prison, ordered to pay a $25,000 fine and will serve three years of supervised release following her incarceration, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

Prosecutors said Hartley served as Director of Operations for Northwest Slurry Solutions and Hydro Excavation, LLC, a Hillsboro-based company that accepted industrial wastewater despite lacking permits or authorization to dispose of such material through the municipal sewer system.

According to court documents, between February and September 2020, Hartley marketed Northwest Slurry as capable of handling industrial wastewater disposal. During that time, the company accepted approximately 500,000 gallons of wastewater contaminated with pollutants including hydrofluoric acid, titanium, molybdenum, vanadium, arsenic and other toxic heavy metals.

Authorities said the wastewater was discharged directly into Hillsboro’s sanitary sewer system.

Investigators also alleged Hartley attempted to hide the illegal discharges when employees from Clean Water Services, the public utility that operates the sewer system, inspected the facility.

A federal grand jury in Portland indicted Hartley on July 15, 2025, charging her with conspiracy to violate and violating the Clean Water Act. She later pleaded guilty on Jan. 21, 2026, to conspiracy to violate the Clean Water Act.

U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford announced the sentence.

The case was investigated by the Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division with assistance from Clean Water Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew T. Ho and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwendolyn Russell prosecuted the case.

Federal officials said the investigation was conducted through the Environmental Crimes Task Force, a District of Oregon initiative focused on investigating and prosecuting environmental, public lands and wildlife crimes through partnerships between federal, state and local agencies.