Quality and Food Safety Supervisor

Lamb Weston seeks to widen Umatilla nitrate pollution lawsuit. Published 5:00 pm Friday, August 21, 2026 Lamb Weston, which along with other plaintiffs, is accused of contaminating groundwater in Umatilla and Morrow counties, has filed a third-party complaint within that case against J.R. Simplot Co. and Shearer's Foods, alleging they should share in the liability for the pollution if the plaintiffs prevail in their lawsuit. (Capital Press/File) BOARDMAN - A food processor accused of polluting groundwater in Oregon's Umatilla basin is seeking to expand the litigation to include other companies that may have contributed to the problem. In 2024, several residents in the region filed a federal lawsuit accusing Lamb Weston, a major potato processor, and other agribusiness firms of spreading water tainted with nitrogen onto farm fields, contaminating the local aquifer's drinking water. Lamb Weston has now filed a third-party complaint within that case against the J.R. Simplot Co., and Shearer's Foods, alleging they should share in the liability for the pollution if the plaintiffs prevail in their lawsuit. Though Lamb Weston continues to deny it contributed to the alleged contamination, the company argues that Simplot and Shearer's should "bear their equitable share" of the blame if it's found to be liable for the groundwater pollution. If Lamb Weston is found liable in the case, in other words, it should be "entitled to contribution" from these other companies for any amount that the processor must pay "in excess of its proportional share of the common liability." The third-party complaint argues that Simplot began applying wastewater to fields from its processing facility in the region from 1977 to 2004, and has continued irrigated with wastewater from other sources after that plant shut down. Similarly, Shearer's irrigated with wastewater from a potato chip and cheese puff processing facility from 1997 until 2022 in the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area, or LUGWAMA, according to the third-party complaint. In both cases, Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality has determined that the sites in question have harmed groundwater quality in the area, according to the filing. "Each of the third-party defendants also engaged in the generation, handling, storage, treatment, transportation, land application, or disposal of nitrogen-bearing wastewater, waste, or materials within or adjacent to the LUBGWMA," the document said. Neither Simplot nor Shearer's responded to requests for comment as of press time. Plaintiffs respond. The plaintiffs in the original lawsuit - who seek class action status allowing other residents to join in the litigation - are opposed to Lamb Weston's third-party complaint against the other processors. The relief sought by Lamb Weston isn't permissible under Oregon Law and would complicate the litigation at a time that a trial has already been set for next year, according to the plaintiffs. Adding two new defendants to the case "creates prejudice" against the plaintiffs by including "new disputes over additional facilities, wastewater practices, land-application sites, groundwater measures, DEQ conclusions, and alleged nitrogen loading," the plaintiffs claim. These complications would require additional discovery and the resolution of other legal disputes at a time when the case is already seeking class certification and has a trial scheduled for June 2027, according to the plaintiffs. The plaintiffs have asked a federal judge to bar Lamb Weston from seeking to dilute its liability, or at least "protect the case schedule" by keeping the June 2027 trial date and requiring the processor to litigate its claims against the other companies separately.

Shearer's Foods to close Bristol, Virginia, facility; about 155 employees affected. by Natalea Hillen Wed, July 22, 2026 at 5:22 PM Updated Wed, July 22, 2026 at 6:21 PM 00:00 01:47 WCYB photo. BRISTOL, Va. (WCYB) - A major employer in the Bristol area is shutting down, leaving dozens of families facing an uncertain future. Shearer's Foods announced Wednesday morning it will close its manufacturing facility in Bristol, Virginia, affecting about 155 local employees. Those workers are now preparing for what comes next. Shearer's Foods, which supplies snacks such as chips and cookies, has operated the Bristol facility since acquiring it in 2010. After more than 15 years, the company said it will close the plant because production at the facility has declined due to changing customer demand. "I think it's wrong, very wrong," said Bristol resident Jackie Fuller, whose friend is among those losing their job. "She's a good friend, and now here they are going to be without a job," Fuller said. News 5's Natalea Hillen reached out to Shearer's Foods for an interview, but a company spokesperson said no one was available to speak on camera. Instead, the company provided a statement saying the decision followed a review of its operations and that the Bristol facility will stop production on July 31. "It's going to be hurting a lot of people," Fuller said. Team members will remain employed and on payroll through Sept. 26. The company said it also will host onsite job fairs and connect employees with other employment opportunities as they transition. "I heard they was going to try to help them, but it's still the job the money they were getting. I really don't think they're going to find one as good as that one," Fuller said. The company said no decisions have been made about the future of the facility, but it will work with the property owner to evaluate what comes next for the site. SPONSORED CONTENT MORE TO EXPLORE