Search Results - Washington State Department of Ecology

Washington adopts rule to decrease methane emissions from landfills

May 13, 2024 News release: Ecology is adopting a new regulation to reduce emissions of methane – a potent greenhouse gas – from municipal solid waste landfills.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2024/new-rule-to-decrease-landfill-methane-emissions

Ecology announces new southwest region director

March 7, 2024 News release: Bobbak Talebi named Ecology's new Southwest Region director.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2024/march-7-ecology-announces-new-southwest-region-director

West Plains residents to receive no-cost drinking water sampling for PFAS

February 21, 2024 News release: Drinking water testing for PFAS will soon be available to about 300 private and shared wells in the northeast West Plains area at no cost to residents.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2024/feb-21-west-plains-sampling-for-pfas

Property owner fined $71,800 penalty for damage to wetlands, failure to abide by restoration agreement

January 7, 2025 News release: Ecology issued a $71,800 penalty to Chad Williams for damaging wetlands on property he owns near Camas, and failing to comply with an agreement he signed.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2025/jan-7-williams-wetland-penalty

State penalizes Kent recycling company $33,000 for dangerous waste violations

January 16, 2025 News release: Ecology is issuing a $33,000 penalty to Total Reclaim, Inc. (TRI) in Kent for violations of the state’s dangerous waste regulations

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2025/jan-16-state-penalizes-kent-recycling-company-33-000-for-dangerous-waste-violations

$30,000 penalty to plastics producer for failing to register products under 2021 law

March 13, 2025 News release: Penalties collected under the 2021 law provide financial support to local governments for solid waste programs.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2025/march-13-30-000-penalty-to-plastics-producer-for-failing-to-register-products-under-2021-law

Ecology updates clean water permit for large livestock operations and manure lagoons

December 6, 2022 News release: We are updating the CAFO permit to better protect water quality at permitted facilities.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2022/dec-7-cafo-permit

Water quality permit holders to see updated fees in 2023

March 22, 2023 News release: The fees paid by the 6,800 water quality permittees in Washington state are undergoing a revision.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2023/march-22-water-quality-permit-fee-rule

Summary of environmental penalties issued in the second quarter of 2019

August 26, 2019 News release: Summary of environmental penalties issued in the second quarter of 2019

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2019/environmental-penalties-2nd-quarter-2019

New permit for Puget Sound wastewater treatment plants will reduce nutrient pollution

July 14, 2021 News release: Wastewater treatment plant upgrades will improve the health of Puget Sound under new Ecology permit.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2021/june-16-nutrient-permit

Chehalis Basin projects receive $4.7 million to create jobs, restore habitat

June 10, 2020 News release: We provided funds to a team of experts who have awarded $4.7 million in grants for 20 aquatic habitat restoration projects in the Chehalis Basin.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2020/chehalis-basin-aquatic-habitat-grants

Seattle and King County fined for sewer overflow violations

January 11, 2023 News release: Ecology and EPA are jointly issuing fines to Seattle and King County for violations of their federal consent decrees and state permits regulating combined sewer overflows from Seattle sewer systems.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2023/jan-11-seattle-and-king-co-fine-for-sewer-overflow

Washington Conservation Corps opens 300 environmental positions statewide

July 3, 2019 News release: Washington Conservation Corps opens 300 environmental positions statewide

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2019/july-2-wcc-opens-300-positions

State reviews record amount of water quality data in effort to prioritize improvements

April 8, 2021 News release: Ecology uses the water quality assessment to categorize state waters as clean or polluted. The new draft assessment is now available for review.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2021/draft-water-quality-assessment

Environmental penalties for fourth quarter 2018

March 4, 2019 News release: List of penalties for Ecology issued during the fourth quarter 2018

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2019/march-4-environmental-penalties-for-fourth-quarter

Seattle metal recycler fined $98,000 for pollution discharges to Duwamish River

February 13, 2019 News release: We fined a Seattle metal recycler on the Duwamish River for discharging excessive pollutant levels into the waterway over the past two years.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2019/feb-13-seattle-iron-penalty

New study tallies the litter accumulating on Washington’s roads and public spaces

September 18, 2023 News release: Statewide litter study finds the amount of debris on Washington's roads well above national average.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2023/sept-18-new-litter-campaign-1c0a5aec227ee54ac7f22b9cdb954bf0

Industrial sites have new requirements to protect water quality

December 2, 2024 News release: Ecology has issued the updated Industrial Stormwater General permit for nearly 1,200 facilities.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2024/dec-2-industrial-stormwater-permit

State lays out plan to tackle impacts of climate change in Washington

September 30, 2024 News release: The Washington State Climate Resilience Strategy works to prepare for climate change threats and impacts from drought, changing ocean conditions, flooding, extreme heat, and wildfires and smoke.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2024/sept-30-climate-resilience-strategy

Environmental penalties issued for the fourth quarter of 2023

August 19, 2024 News release: Ecology issued $1,109,200 in penalties of $1,000 or more from Oct. 1 – Dec. 31, 2023.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2024/aug-19-penalty-summary-for-quarter-4-2023

Pacific Northwest federal, state agencies to collaborate on prescribed fire, smoke management to confront wildfire crisis

April 5, 2024 News release: State and federal agencies and departments in Oregon and Washington have agreed to collaborate on addressing the escalating wildfire crisis by increasing use of larger prescribed fires.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2024/apr-5-pnw-agencies-collaborate-on-wildfire-crisis

Environmental penalties issued for the third quarter of 2023

January 26, 2024 News release: Ecology issued $138,800 in penalties of $1,000 or more from July 1 – Sept. 30, 2023.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2024/jan-25-third-quarter-2023-penalties

State of Washington, federal agencies finalize agreement on future of tank waste cleanup at Hanford Site

January 10, 2025 News release: The Tri-Party Agreement Agencies have finalized a landmark agreement that outlines a realistic and achievable course for cleaning up millions of gallons of underground tank waste at the Hanford Site.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2025/hanford-site-holistic-agreement-finalized

Stage 1 burn ban for Methow Valley, Chelan and Douglas counties; extended in Kittitas and Klickitat

December 6, 2019 News release: Stage 1 burn ban called for Methow Valley, Chelan and Douglas; ban extended in Kittitas and Klickitat

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2019/dec-6-stage-1-burn-ban-called-for-methow-valley-c

Port Townsend mill fined $56,250 for air quality violation

December 14, 2022 News release: The Washington Department of Ecology has fined Port Townsend Paper Corporation $56,250 for exceeding an air quality limit at their Port Townsend mill.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2022/dec-14-port-townsend-paper-penalty

Ecology begins rulemaking on climate funds reporting

May 25, 2023 News release: Ecology is starting new rulemaking focused on reporting requirements for state agencies that receive and use CCA auction revenues.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2023/may-25-cca-funds-reporting

Stage 1 burn ban called for Kittitas and Klickitat counties

December 4, 2019 News release: Stage 1 burn ban called for Kittitas and Klickitat counties

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2019/dec-4-stage-1-burn-ban-called-for-kittitas-and-kli

Statement from Ecology Director Maia Bellon

December 2, 2019 News release: Maia Bellon announces she is stepping down as director of Washington's Dept. of Ecology

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2019/dec-2-statement-from-ecology-director-maia-bellon

Washington state targets methane gas from landfills to help slow climate change

December 8, 2022 News release: Washington continues to focus on decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and is now working on a rule requiring some municipal solid waste landfills to reduce the amount of methane they emit.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2022/landfill-methane-rule

Stage 1 burn ban called for Okanogan Valley

December 3, 2020 News release: Stage 1 burn ban called beginning Dec. 3 for Okanogan Valley.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2020/dec-3-stage-1-burn-ban-called-for-okanogan-valley

Federal court strikes down attempt to limit state, Tribal rights to protect water quality

October 22, 2021 News release: Ecology Director Laura Watson's comments on Oct. 21 court decision regarding federal Clean Water Act Section 401 rule.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2021/oct-21-statement-from-ecology-director-on-court-de

Burn ban lifted in Ferry, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, and Stevens counties

October 28, 2020 News release: A Stage 1 burn ban was lifted for four Northeast Washington counties.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2020/oct-28-burn-ban-lifted-in-ferry-pend-oreille-oka

Franklin County farm fined for illegal water use

October 20, 2021 News release: The Washington Department of Ecology has issued a $304,000 penalty to Frank Tiegs LLC for illegally irrigating 250 acres of crops in Franklin County in 2021.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2021/water-right-penalty

Marine Servicecenter fined $30,000 for water pollution

November 13, 2019 News release: Marine Servicecenter finded $30,000 for water pollution.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2019/nov-13-marine-servicecenter-fined

Deer Lake resident fined $10,000 for illegal burning

October 22, 2020 News release: Ecology's Air Quality program fined a Deer Lake resident $10,000 for illegal burning.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2020/oct-22-deer-lake-resident-fined-10-000-for-illega

Greenhouse gas reporting rules updated for new climate law

October 13, 2021 News release: New greenhouse gas reporting rules proposed for Climate Commitment Act

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2021/oct-13-greenhouse-gas-reporting-rules-updated-for

Settlement for unauthorized irrigation in Skagit Valley benefits salmon

October 31, 2022 News release: Under a settlement with The Washington Department of Ecology, Skagit Valley Farm will pay $138,500 for the unauthorized irrigation of 348 acres in the Skagit area.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2022/oct-31-settlement-for-unauthorized-irrigation-in-s

Governor Inslee declares drought for three Washington regions

March 12, 2015 News release: With snowpack at near record lows, Gov. Inslee declared a drought on the Olympic Peninsula, on the east side of the central Cascade Mountains including Yakima and Wenatchee, and the Walla Walla region.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2015/governor-inslee-declares-drought-for-three-washing

Stage 1 Burn ban for Ferry, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, and Stevens counties

November 1, 2019 News release: Stage 1 Burn ban for Ferry, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, and Stevens counties

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2019/nov-1-burn-ban

Summer positions now open for the Washington Conservation Corps

April 11, 2023 News release: Young adults ages 18-25 can apply to the Washington Conservation Corps to spend a summer outdoors gaining experience in the environmental field.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2023/summer-positions-now-open-for-the-wcc

Tukwila business settles dangerous waste penalty

October 31, 2019 News release: A Tukwila aircraft parts manufacturer has paid us $12,000 to settle an appeal of a larger penalty.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2019/oct-31-fatigue-technology-settlement

Leaking hazardous waste container leads to $37,000 fine for Clean Earth Specialty Waste Solutions

October 10, 2022 News release: Clean Earth Specialty Waste Solutions, a hazardous waste transportation company, received a $37,000 penalty from Washington’s Department of Ecology for allowing a storage container to leak corrosive waste.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2022/oct-10-clean-earth-penalty

Statement from Ecology director about EPA’s proposed Clean Water Act rule

October 21, 2019 News release: Director Bellon's formal objections to EPA's proposed changes to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2019/director-bellon-statement-on-epa-401-proposed-chan

Helping fire departments safely dispose of toxic foam

October 14, 2019 News release: We are helping local fire departments safely dispose of toxic firefighting foam.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2019/oct-14-helping-fire-departments-safely-dispose-of

Water quality violations result in $53,000 fine to San Juan sand and gravel mine

March 23, 2023 News release: The Washington Department of Ecology is issuing a $53,000 penalty to Myron Williams, Inc., for failing to protect water quality at its mining operation at Egg Lake Quarry on San Juan Island.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2023/march-23-water-quality-violations-result-in-fine

Summer jobs now open for Southwest Washington teens ages 14-17

March 15, 2023 News release: Ecology is hiring up to 18 teenagers in Lewis, Grays Harbor, and Thurston counties this summer as part of the Ecology Youth Corps.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2023/march-15-summer-litter-crew-jobs-for-teens

Ecology invites public comment on changes to some air quality permit fees

September 7, 2022 News release: Ecology is seeking public comment on a proposed rule for some air quality permit fees.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2022/sept-7-aq-permit-fees-public-comment

Ace Hardware fined for diesel spill to Snoqualmie River

July 1, 2021 News release: Ace Hardware fined for diesel spill to Snoqualmie River

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2021/ace-hardware-fined-for-diesel-spill-to-snoqualmie

125 wastewater treatment plants earn outstanding performance honors

August 25, 2020 News release: 125 wastewater treatment plants earn outstanding performance awards for 2019.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2020/125-wastewater-treatment-plants-awards

Pullman contractor fined for improper decommissioning of well

September 20, 2022 News release: A contractor in Pullman is facing penalties after illegally altering and filling a homeowner’s well with debris from a razed house in Whitman County.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2022/sept-20-pullman-contractor-fined-for-improper-de