The Washington Department of Ecology issued $298,600 in penalties of $1,000 or more from July through September 2021. This included a $280,000 fine to Bellevue Investors LLC for the improper disposal of hazardous waste.
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 2021
| County | City | Date issued | Recipient | Description | Amount | Media contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grant | 07/27/2021 | Metro Farms LP | Continued to irrigate 22 acres of farmland after legally selling their irrigation right and ordered to cease and desist on May 26, 2021. The penalty is based on field observations of the watering on June 17, 2021. | $2,000 | Stephanie May, 509-202-5674 |
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| Grays Harbor | Westport | 09/02/2021 | Al Carter | A tank leak caused process wastewater to be discharged to Grays Harbor, which is a water quality violation. | $2,000 | Jeff Zenk, 360-280-3704 |
| Jefferson | Port Townsend | 07/12/2021 | Port Townsend Paper | Port Townsend Paper Company exceeded the standard for nitrogen oxides at a boiler on Feb. 2, 2021, March 30, 2021, and April 13, 2021. | $7,500 | Jeff Zenk, 360-280-3704 |
| King | Bellevue | 09/21/2021 | Bellevue Investors I LLC | Bellevue Investors I LLC illegally disposed soil contaminated with dry cleaning solvents and other hazardous materials to solid waste landfills. The excess material was outside of their authorization. Despite orders to stop, the company removed and trucked 30 million pounds (just over 14,000 tons) of hazardous material in July and December of 2020, from the redevelopment project at 117 106th Ave. NE in Bellevue. News Release | $280,000 | Erich R. Ebel. 360-407-6709 |
| Mason | Belfair | 09/20/2021 | Mike McLean | Stormwater from a construction site washed out a slope and discharged dirt and water into an unnamed stream on Hood Canal. | $1,000 | Jeff Zenk, 360-280-3704 |
| Kittitas | Cle Elum | 08/26/2021 | Kuney Construction | During bridge deck repair on Interstate 90, polluted runoff was discharged to the Cle Elum River in violation of state water quality laws and their Construction Stormwater General Permit. | $2,000 | Joye Redfield-Wilder. 509-961-6277 |
| Thurston | Olympia | 09/17/2021 | Zack Martin | On Oct. 4, 2019, the 78-foot vessel KINGSWAY1 sank at the West Bay Marina in Olympia. An Ecology investigation determined that an estimated 1,199 gallons of diesel fuel was spilled into Budd Inlet. | $2,500 | Jeff Zenk, 360-280-3704 |
| Whatcom | Bellingham | 09/16/2021 | Lakeside Marine | Three gallons of diesel fuel was spilled into Lake Whatcom on Sept. 13, 2019, due to high winds ripping cables used to secure a floating barge. | $1,600 | Jasmin Adams. 360-464-0324 |