History
Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of shimelle
A vacant toy factory on Highway 217 once employed over 1,200 workers. The facility was used to manufacture View Masters, Magnadoodles and other childhood favorites, but ceased operations in 1997.
Discovery
In March 1998, an inspection of the manufacturing facility was performed by the building's owner. The water was tested and found to contain 1,600 parts per billion trichloroethylene, also known as TCE. This is 300 times the level recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Surrounding Area
The area around the Hall Street manufacturing facility has been developed with many office buildings, restaurants and a shopping mall. These buildings do not rely on water from the former toy plant, but rather have their water piped in from the local water district.
Negligence
Oregon passed a law in 1991 that required facilities such as this toy factory to test its water for volatile chemicals. Even though the company routinely tested its water for bacteria, it failed to have the water tested for TCE.
Repercussions
Mattel has been fined $20,000 for failing to test the water. As restitution, Mattel voluntarily offered to pay for a series diagnostic medical tests, which they offer annually to anyone who was employed at the manufacturing facility.
Other concerns
Despite the water concerns associated with the plant, the supply of water to the rest of Beaverton is well within limitations set by the Environmental Protection Agency. There are no unusual problems with pollution, land over-development or air quality in Beaverton.
