A lawsuit was filed against Blue Heron Paper Co. under the Clean Water Act by the Northwest Environmental Defense Center. The lawsuit was about the temperature of Blue Heron's wastewater which Blue Heron Paper Co. had to settle. The company obtained a new permit from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) which required Blue Heron to determine the potential impact of discharges and to reduce the heat and turbidity. The Blue Heron was also committed to assist in the project of river restoration and to pay an undisclosed amount to the plaintiffs.