Department of Ecology News Release - November 19, 2018

Environmental penalties for third quarter 2018

OLYMPIA  – 

The Washington Department of Ecology issued $401,000 in penalties of $1,000 or more July through September 2018. A table listing the violations and resulting penalties is below.

Ecology works with thousands of businesses and individuals to help them comply with state laws. Penalties are issued in cases where non-compliance continues after Ecology has provided technical assistance or warnings, or for particularly serious violations.

The money owed from penalties may be reduced from the issued amount due to settlement or court rulings. Funds collected go to the state’s general fund or to dedicated pollution prevention accounts.

Ecology strives to protect, preserve and enhance Washington’s environment and promote wise management for current and future generations. When someone pollutes Washington’s land, air or waters, Ecology enforces state and federal regulations in hopes of changing behavior and deterring future violations.

Penalties for July-September 2018

County
City
Date issued
Recipient
Description
Amount
Media contact
Asotin
Anatone
7/20/2018
Bonasa Breaks Ranch
The Bonasa Breaks Ranch dam failed on April 13, 2017, causing large-scale environmental damage to Rattlesnake Creek and the Grande Ronde River. The owner agreed to pay $15,000 for failing to secure required permits to increase the dam’s size, and $100,000 for violating the state’s water quality laws. The agreement also includes restoration of more than six miles of creek estimated to cost $2.5 million over the next 10 years. News release.
$115,000
Brook Beeler, 509-329-3464
Clark              
Vancouver
9/28/2018
Ken Leahy Construction Inc.
 
Allowed soil and sediment to track off site, and failed to contain construction debris/trash at the Portside Lagoon and Landfill, in repeat violations of their construction stormwater permit.
$2,000
Colleen Keltz, 360-407-6408
King
Auburn
9/24/2018
Numatic Finishing Corp.
 
Improperly managed dangerous wastes, including ignitable and toxic solvents and leftover paints that can release harmful vapors or cause fires.
News release.
$20,000
Larry Altose,
425-649-7009
King
Seattle
8/3/2018
King County Wastewater Treatment Division
Settlement payment under a legal agreement with Ecology and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for violating state water quality permit conditions related to combined sewer overflows (CSO) in 2016 and 2017. News release. Paid. 
$100,500
Larry Altose,
425-649-7009
King
Seattle
8/3/2018
King County Wastewater Treatment Division
Violated water quality permit CSO provisions in 2016 and 2017, not covered under a legal agreement on CSO control with Ecology and EPA.  News release. Paid.
$18,000
Larry Altose,
425-649-7009
King
Seattle
7/19/2018
Timothy E. Whitney, vessel owner
Spilled 110 gallons of oil into Salmon Bay when the tugboat Chief sank at Ballard Oil Marina in November 2017. News release.
$127,500
Sandy Howard,
360-407-6990
Kitsap
Bremerton
7/9/2018
Trep Development LLC
Failed to keep muddy water from draining off the East Park construction site into nearby storm drains and waterways. News release. Appealed.
$13,000
Larry Altose,
425-649-7009
Pierce
Tacoma
9/7/2018
Jackpot Station 340
Failed to comply with leak detection requirements at fueling operations. Also failed to comply with reporting and recordkeeping and operator training requirements for environmental protection.
$1,000
CherylAnn Bishop,
360-407-6848
Pierce
Fife
9/24/2018
Flying J Travel Plaza
Failed to comply with corrosion protection requirements at fueling operations.
$1,000
CherylAnn Bishop,
360-407-6848
Skagit
Burlington
8/27/2018
Cascade Concrete Industries
Failed to submit discharge monitoring reports for second quarter of 2018, as required under the sand and gravel water quality permit.
$1,500
Ty Keltner
360-255-4405
Skagit
Alger
8/28/2018
Bell Alger Sand & Gravel
Failed to submit discharge monitoring reports for first and second quarter of 2018, as required by the sand and gravel water quality permit.
$1,500
Ty Keltner
360-255-4405
 

Missing penalties for April-June 2018

Due to a lag in docket posting, some penalties totaling $41,800 were missing from our second quarter report
 
County
City
Date issued
Recipient
Description
Amount
Media contact
Chelan Cashmere 6/20/2018 Blue Star Growers, Inc. Plant 1 Failed to submit water quality discharge monitoring reports for three quarters in 2016 as required under the industrial stormwater general permit. Penalty paid. $3.000 Colleen Keltz,
360-407-6408
Clark Washougal 6/20/2018 Intech Enterprises Grant St Washougal Failed to submit discharge monitoring reports for three quarters in 2016 as required under the industrial stormwater general permit. Penalty appealed. $3,000 Colleen Keltz, 360-407-6408
Grays Harbor Elma 6/20/2018 Twin Harbor Recycling Hwy 12 Failed to submit discharge monitoring reports for three quarters in 2016 as required under the industrial stormwater general permit. $3,000 Colleen Keltz,
360-407-6408
Grays Harbor   6/27/2018 Fishing Vessel Ila; 
Kenneth F. Earnst Jr.
Vessel owner grounded his fishing boat on the beach, causing an oil spill and an environmental emergency. $7,000 Sandy Howard,
360-407-6990
King Bellevue 6/20/2018 Shimmick/Parson Joint Venture Released muddy water and sediment into Mercer Slough when a stormwater tank for the Sound Transit East Link project was emptied at too high a rate onto a gravel parking lot. Penalty paid. $2,500 Larry Altose,
425-649-7009
King Federal Way 6/20/2018 Astro Autowrecking Failed to submit discharge monitoring reports for three quarters in 2016 as required under the industrial stormwater general permit. $3,000 Colleen Keltz,
360-407-6408
Pierce Tacoma 6/8/2018 Wm Dickson Co. Waller Road Pit Tracked sediment onto the roadway where entering a catch basin that goes to Pierce County's stormwater conveyance system, and violated sand and gravel water quality permit. $2,500 Colleen Keltz,
360-407-6408
Pierce Spanaway 6/20/2018 Rollins Auto Wrecking Failed to submit discharge monitoring reports for two quarters in 2016 as required under the industrial stormwater general permit. Penalty paid. $3,000 Colleen Keltz,
360-407-6408
Skagit Concrete 5/29/2018 Town of Concrete Discharged untreated wastewater to the Skagit River; failed to properly maintain and operate the town’s wastewater treatment plant, and did not report violations in a timely manner. News release. Appealed. $12,800 Larry Altose,
425-649-7009

Contact information

Joye Redfield-Wilder
Communications manager
509-575-2610
Twitter: EcyCentral