Department of Ecology News Release - November 9, 2015

Environmental penalties for third quarter 2015

OLYMPIA  – 

The Washington Department of Ecology issued $413,536 in penalties of $1,000 or more from July through September 2015.

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 air, land or waters, Ecology enforces state and federal regulations in hopes of changing behavior and deterring future violations.

Penalties for July - September 2015

County City Date Issued Recipients Description Amount Media contact
Chelan Malaga 7/29/15 Alcoa, Inc., Wenatchee Works Violated permit limits by discharging too much aluminum, fluoride and suspended solids.  $36,000 Joye Redfield-Wilder
509-575-2610
Cowlitz Keslo 8/24/15 Foster Farms Releasing untreated chicken processing wastewater from its Kelso processing facility.  $44,000 Chase Gallagher
360-407-6239
Cowlitz Kelso 7/9/15 ALS Environmental Hazardous waste violations were found during inspections. Original $25,000 penalty settled.  $16,667 Chase Gallagher
360-407-6239
Jefferson Brinnon 8/11/15 Vessel Avalon, Randy Schleich On Sept. 14, 2014 the Avalon grounded in Pleasant Harbor spilling approximately 75 gallons of diesel.  $16,244 Chase Gallagher
360-407-6239
King Kent 9/23/15 Western Metal Art and Sign Failed to comply with order to properly manage and dispose of potentially hazardous waste at leased facility. $10,000 Larry Altose,
425-649-7009
Kittitas Cle Elum 7/17/15 Simpsons Texaco Failure to comply with leak detection requirements for underground fuel storage tanks. $1,100 Joye Redfield-Wilder
509-575-2610
Lincoln Ford 9/2/15 Scott Wollweber Illegally burning land clearing debris without a permit. $2,000 Brook Beeler
509-329-3478
Okanogan Methow 9/22/15 Eric Zahn Property Illegally burning without a permit including prohibited materials during a Stage 1 burn ban. $2,175 Joye Redfield-Wilder
509-575-2610
Pierce Tacoma 8/3/15 Emerald Services Inc. Failure to follow dangerous waste permit requirements including prevention of spills and staff training.  $99,000 Chase Gallagher
360-407-6239
Spokane Spokane 9/8/15 TransCanada Allowed a natural gas turbine to release uncontrolled nitrogen oxide emissions and failed to submit test results required by permit. $4,000 Brook Beeler
509-329-3478
Stevens Chewelah 7/8/15 White Stone Calcium Inc. Releasing uncontrolled particle pollution. $5,000 Brook Beeler
509-329-3478
Thurston Olympia 7/17/15 Element, Kellen Mangan Operating without a stormwater construction permit. $1,500 Chase Gallagher
360-407-6239
Thurston Olympia 7/17/15 Lot 36 The Reserve, Kellen Mangan Operating without a stormwater construction permit. $1,500 Chase Gallagher
360-407-6239
Thurston Olympia 7/17/15 Evergreen Pointe, Kellen Mangan Operating without a stormwater construction permit. $1,500 Chase Gallagher
360-407-6239
Walla Walla Touchet 8/18/15 Touchet Eastside Illegally diverted water that was placed into trust to protect critical stream flows for threatened steelhead in the Touchet River. $73,350 Brook Beeler
509-329-3478
Whatcom Ferndale 9/4/15 Jim and Victoria Snyder Manure pollution discharged into California Creek. Lack of adequate covered manure storage, improper manure spreading, and accumulations of manure in pastures and confinement areas that slope to water bodies are cited as factors that led to the discharges. $12,000 Krista Kenner
360-715-5205
Whatcom Lynden 7/30/15 Versacold Cascade Cold Storage Inc. Continuing violations under the Industrial Stormwater General Permit, including an inadequate Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan and failure to implement corrective actions. $1,500 Krista Kenner
360-715-5205
Whatcom Van Zandt 8/10/15 BNSF at VanZandt Placing polluting materials including dirt, rocks, and freshly treated railroad ties into water bodies in Whatcom and Skagit counties. Penalty appealed.  $86,000 Krista Kenner
360-715-5205
       

 

Total
$413,536

 

Contact information

Brook Beeler
Communications manager
509-329-3478