Search Results - Washington State Department of Ecology

$11.3 million available for water banking grants

August 2, 2023 News release: The Washington Department of Ecology is now accepting applications for $11.3 million in water banking grants to help rural communities preserve water supplies for local use.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2023/august-2-water-banking-grants

Grays Harbor seafood processor fined for multiple water quality violations

April 14, 2022 News release: Pacific Seafood fined for water quality violations

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2022/pacific-seafood-fined-for-water-quality-violations

Ecology tracking Hanford waste tank leak

April 29, 2021 News release: The U.S. Department of Energy announced Thursday an underground radioactive and dangerous chemical waste storage tank at the Hanford Site in Southeast Washington is leaking.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2021/ecology-tracking-hanford-waste-tank-leak

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

Whatcom County farm fined second time for illegal water use

October 17, 2024 News release: The Washington Department of Ecology issued a $20,000 fine to RAN General Partnership and its owner Rick Alamwala for illegal irrigation.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2024/oct-16-water-right-penalty

Outstanding performance awards go to 110 wastewater treatment plants

August 5, 2019 News release: Wastewater treatment plant operators play a critical role in keeping Washington’s waters clean. 110 wastewater treatment plants in Washington garnered top-performing status this year.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2019/aug-5-outstanding-performance-awards-for-wastewate

Public invited to June 3rd meeting about East Fork Lewis River water quality

May 27, 2019 News release: Ecology is inviting the public to participate in a town hall meeting about East Fork Lewis River water quality. The event will take place June 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the La Center Grange.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2019/may-28-east-fork-lewis-river-public-meeting

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

Port Townsend Paper fined $20,000 for water quality violations

September 18, 2025 News release: Ecology has fined the mill a total of $20,000 for the two water quality violations.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2025/sept-18-port-townsend-paper-penalty

Weyerhaeuser mill fined $40,000 for water quality violations

February 17, 2022 News release: The Weyerhaeuser Company is being fined $40,000 for repeated water quality violations at its Longview mill.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2022/feb-17-weyerhaeuser-penalty

Tank waste monitoring and closure

We oversee the safe management, retrieval and closure of the waste in Hanford's underground tanks.

https://ecology.wa.gov/waste-toxics/nuclear-waste/hanford-cleanup/tank-waste-management/tank-monitoring-closure

Preparing Whatcom water users for adjudication

April 19, 2024 News release: Ecology has mailed 30,000 post cards to Nooksack area water users to let them know about adjudication.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2024/apr-19-adjudications-postcard

State issues $33,000 penalty to U.S. Postal Service for dangerous waste violations

August 19, 2025 News release: USPS has been improperly managing and storing dangerous waste at its Seattle Bulk Mail Center in Federal Way. Ecology issued a $33,000 penalty for violations found during a 2024 inspection.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2025/aug-19-state-issues-33-000-penalty-to-u-s-postal-service-for-dangerous-waste-violations

Water Supply Availability Committee

The Water Supply Availability Committee evaluates statewide water supply conditions.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/accountability-transparency/partnerships-committees/water-supply-availability-committee

Spokane Galvanizing penalized $32,000 for mismanaging dangerous waste

July 31, 2024 News release: Spokane Galvanizing received a $32,000 penalty for violating state dangerous waste laws.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2024/july-31-west-plains-sampling-for-pfas

Westport seafood plant penalized $222,000 for water quality violations

June 13, 2024 News release: The Washington Department of Ecology issued a $222,000 penalty to the Pacific Seafood-Westport facility for repeatedly sending polluted wastewater into Half Moon Bay in Westport.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2024/june-13-seafood-plant-penalized

Ecology and Energy reach agreement to address Hanford’s leaking underground tanks

August 25, 2022 News release: The Washington State Department of Ecology and the U.S. Department of Energy have agreed on a plan for how to respond to two underground tanks that are leaking radioactive waste as well as any future tank leaks at the Hanford Site.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2022/hanford-leaking-tanks-agreed-order

The history of water law

Since 1917, Washington state water laws have played an important role in managing water resources.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/our-programs/water-resources/learn-the-history-of-water-law

New status, protections proposed for Soap Lake and the Cascade, Green and Napeequa rivers

July 18, 2023 News release: Proposal to name Soap Lake and the Cascade, Green, and Napeequa rivers Outstanding Resource Waters.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2023/july-18-proposed-protection-for-outstanding-resource-waters

Irrigators in Little Spokane River watershed will likely see water restrictions this summer

August 5, 2019 News release: Some water users in the Little Spokane River basin will have to curb their consumption if lower water levels persist this season.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2019/aug-5-little-spokane-river-water-restrictions-poss

New rulemaking will reduce plastic and other contamination in compost

December 10, 2024 News release: New rule is aimed at reducing contamination in organic waste going to organic waste handling facilities.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2024/dec-10

Ecology and Auburn wood finisher settle $20,000 penalty

June 20, 2019 News release: Numatic Finishing of Auburn will pay $5,000 to settle its appeal of our $20,000 hazardous waste penalty from 2018, with $15,000 dismissed after two years if there are no more violations.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2019/june-20-numatic-finishing-settlement

Contractor settles penalty for Lacey water quality violations

October 6, 2022 News release: Milestone LLC will pay a reduced penalty, provide additional employee training, and contribute to a water quality improvement project under a settlement agreement with Ecology.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2022/oct-6-milestone-penalty-settlement

South Bend seafood processor fined $33,000 for water quality violations

July 26, 2023 News release: The Washington Department of Ecology is penalizing South Bend Products $33,000 for multiple water quality violations.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2023/july-26-south-bend-seafoods-penalty

Port Townsend mill fined $27,000 for water quality violations

May 17, 2022 News release: Repeated water quality violations at the Port Townsend Paper Corporation (PTPC) mill in Port Townsend led to a $27,000 penalty from the Washington Department of Ecology.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2022/may-17-ptpc-fined-for-water-quality-violations

Whatcom County farm fined for illegal water use

August 1, 2023 News release: The Washington Department of Ecology has issued a $12,000 fine to RAN General Partnership for illegally irrigating about 40 acres of crops in Whatcom County in June and July of 2023.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2023/1-august-whatcom-county-farm-fined-for-illegal-water-use

Spokane County farmer fined for unpermitted water use

August 28, 2024 News release: We have issued a $15,000 penalty to a Spokane County farmer for continued unpermitted irrigation of 69 acres of crops.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2024/aug-28-greiff-penalty

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

New testing methods better protect against waterborne disease

January 24, 2019 News release: New methods to test for waterborne disease in state waters will better protect people during recreational activities.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2019/updates-to-recreational-use-water-quality-testing

Certified water right examiner program

A certified water right examiner verifies water use for certification of a water right.

https://ecology.wa.gov/water-shorelines/water-supply/water-rights/water-right-examiners

Ecology and Westport seafood processer settle penalty for water quality violations

July 12, 2022 News release: Pacific Seafood – Westport, LLC will pay $92,250 to the Washington Department of Ecology under an agreement to settle an appeal of a larger penalty for 49 water quality violations.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2022/july-11-pacific-seafood-settlement

Incentives for innovation included in proposed updates to permit fees

March 8, 2019 News release: Proposed updates to the water quality permit fees include new incentives, winery permit, and inflation adjustments

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2019/march-8-incentives-for-innovation-proposed-permit

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

More than 35,000 drums of industrial waste removed from the Pasco Landfill

June 28, 2022 News release: More than 35,000 drums of industrial waste has been removed from the Pasco Landfill Superfund site.

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

Industrial site in Whatcom County penalized $900,000 for dangerous waste violations

December 5, 2023 News release: Ecology is issuing a $900,000 penalty to Treoil for failure to comply with Washington’s dangerous waste laws.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2023/dec-5-treoil-dangerous-waste-penalty

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

Asphalt manufacturer and distributor penalized $27,000 for violating dangerous waste regulations

April 4, 2024 News release: Ecology is issuing a $27,000 penalty to an asphalt company for not properly managing their dangerous waste.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2024/apr-4-asphalt-toxic-waste-penalty

Use Food Well Washington Plan

The Use Food Well Washington Plan is Washington's roadmap to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030.

https://ecology.wa.gov/waste-toxics/reducing-recycling-waste/organics-and-food-waste/sustainable-food-center/use-food-well-washington-plan

Ecology files water rights adjudication in Whatcom County Superior Court

May 2, 2024 News release: Today Ecology filed a water rights adjudication in Whatcom County Superior Court. This legal process will review and prioritize all water use in the Nooksack basin and nearby areas.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2024/may-2-nooksack-adjudication-filing

$2.2 million in grants awarded to improve water management and watershed restoration in the Walla Walla River Basin

June 29, 2023 News release: We are awarding $2.2 million in grant funding for watershed restoration and water management projects in the Walla Walla River Basin.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2023/june-29-water-management-grants-in-walla-walla

$2.2 million in grants awarded to improve water management and watershed restoration in the Walla Walla River Basin

June 29, 2023 News release: We are awarding $2.2 million in grant funding for watershed restoration and water management projects in the Walla Walla River Basin.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2023/june-29-water-management-grants-in-walla-walla-d6aec9105b52f49b93b3e53ec8138fe7

Awarding $216 million to communities for clean water projects

June 22, 2020 News release: We are awarding $216 million in grants and loans to fund 81 high-priority clean water projects to help upgrade sewer systems, manage stormwater, and prevent nonpoint pollution.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2020/june-22-clean-water-grant-awards

Ecology investigating King County sewage discharge

July 19, 2019 News release: Ecology is investigating sewage treatment failures at King County’s two largest sewage treatment plants on July 18 and 19.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2019/july-19-ecology-investigating-king-county-sewage-d

Statement from Ecology Director Laura Watson on federal rule undermining Washington’s water quality

June 1, 2020 News release: Ecology Director Laura Watson's comments on new federal Clean Water Act Section 401 rule.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2020/june-1-statement-from-ecology-director-on-federal

New Ecology rule updates dangerous waste regulations

October 1, 2020 News release: Washington has updated regulations preventing dangerous wastes from making their way into the environment.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2020/oct-1-new-ecology-rule-updates-dangerous-waste-reg

CANCELED: New dangerous waste regs topic of April 2 workshop at Ecology's Union Gap office

February 20, 2020 News release: CANCELED: Dangerous waste regulations workshop on April 2 at Ecology's Union Gap office

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2020/dangerous-waste-regulations-workshop-in-central-wa

Capturing the Walla Walla River Basin’s vision for integrated water management

May 10, 2021 News release: WWW2050 plan provides a 30-year framework for managing water in the Walla Walla River Basin.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2021/may-10-draft-ww-water-2050-plan

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

April 29, 2024 News release: The Hanford Site agencies have announced a landmark agreement for cleaning up millions of gallons of radioactive and chemical waste from large, underground tanks at the Hanford Site.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2024/holistic-negotiations-agreement

State fines City of Everett after discharge of incompletely treated wastewater to Snohomish River

October 27, 2022 News release: After a malfunctioning pump at Everett’s wastewater treatment facility allowed 9.9 million gallons of partially treated wastewater to flow into the Snohomish River, Ecology has fined the city $13,000.

https://ecology.wa.gov/about-us/who-we-are/news/2022/oct-27-city-of-everett-penalty

Hanford tank waste management

Hanford's underground tank waste will be retrieved and made into glass at the Waste Treatment Plant.

https://ecology.wa.gov/waste-toxics/nuclear-waste/hanford-cleanup/tank-waste-management