Watching Our Water Ways

The Northwest region of the Environmental Protection Agency announced today that its enforcement program has been responsible for increased inspections and doubling the amount of pollution reduced and treated this year, compared to last.

In a news release, Elin Miller, EPA’s regional administrator in Seattle, had this to say:

“Our enforcement results speak for themselves. We’ve increased our inspections, more than doubled the pounds of pollution reduced or treated, and required more than $57 million in process improvements to ensure future compliance. This translates directly into better health protection for both the environment and local communities.”

I always like to give credit where it’s due, especially when the truth runs counter to perceptions about the Bush administration (or anyone else). I don’t doubt the findings, but the information does not tell us whether the EPA has done a great job this year or a poor job last year. In fact, some of the results show that 2006 was better than 2008. And how do these results compare to EPA records under previous administrations?

I was not able to find comparable statistics, but I did find footnotes saying the methods of calculating some stats have changed, so I quit looking. If anyone would care to add some perspective, I would welcome it.

For specific numbers, review the EPA’s Web page called 2008 Region 10 Compliance and Enforcement Annual Results.

The regional office lists these “federal case highlights.” More information can be found in news releases linked from this EPA Web page.

Washington

Puget Sound Energy (PSE) Fined $471,900 for Fuel Spill near Crystal Mountain
(Crystal Mountain, Washington – April 21, 2008) The U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), signed a “Stipulated Order of Settlement” with Puget Sound Energy (PSE). Central to the settlement is PSE’s agreement to pay a $471,900 EPA penalty, which will resolve federal Clean Water Act claims against the Bellevue-based energy company. Olympic pipeline rocked Whatcom County.

Property Owner Faces over $32,000 in Penalties for Wetlands Violations
(Winlock, Wash. June 9, 2008) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a Compliance Order to Mr. Phil Smith, of Chehalis, Washington, to address violations of the federal Clean Water Act. The violations occurred at Mr. Smith’s 190 acre property along Interstate 5 in Lewis County near Winlock, Washington. EPA alleges that in summer and fall of 2007, Mr. Smith failed to obtain required permits before using heavy equipment to clear and fill an estimated 100 acres of wetlands.

Roy Farms to Pay over $29,000 for Emergency Prevention and Safety Violations
(Moxee, Washington – August 14, 2008) Roy Farms, Inc. agreed to pay $29,320 for alleged federal Clean Air Act emergency prevention and planning violations. The alleged violations occurred between July 2002 and July 2007. As part of the settlement with the EPA, Roy Farms also has corrected all alleged violations, and agreed to spend at least $84,120 on new communications and safety equipment for the East Valley fire Department, Yakima County Fire District #4, to improve the department’s capabilities in responding to hazardous material emergencies.

Washington Beef Fined $115,942 for Emergency Prevention and Safety Violations
(Toppenish, Washington – September 22, 2008) Washington Beef, a beef processing facility in Toppenish, Washington, will spend at least $115,942 to settle alleged risk management program violations under the federal Clean Air Act. The Washington Beef facility uses more than 10,000 lbs of anhydrous ammonia for refrigeration purposes. At that level of use, the Clean Air Act requires the company to implement a Risk Management Program. Under the terms of the settlement, the company will pay a penalty of $25,942, and spend at least $90,000 for a new internal ammonia alarm system and related safety equipment.

Alaska

Alaskan Seafood Processor Fined $54,061 for Storm Water Violations
(Naknek, Alaska – April 10, 2008) Leader Creek Fisheries, LLC (Leader Creek), an Alaskan seafood processor located in Naknek has agreed to pay a $54,061 penalty to settle alleged federal Clean Water Act stormwater violations. Based on an inspection of Leader Creek on June 24, 2003 and a follow-up inspection on July 7, 2006, EPA and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation found that Leader Creek was not in compliance with its National Pollutant Discharge elimination System permit.

Alaska Landowner to Pay over $32,000 in Penalties for Wetlands Violations
(Anchorage, Alaska – August 5, 2008) Mr. David R. Sweezey is facing penalties from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for illegally filling wetlands and streams on his Anchorage, Alaska property. Following EPA’s Clean Water Act complaint against Mr. Sweezey, EPA can now seek penalties of up to $32,500 per day of violation and administrative penalties of up to $11,000 per day for each violation. In July 2003, Mr. Sweezey used heavy equipment to clear, grade, and fill wetlands and streams to create a pond on his property without first obtaining a required Clean Water Act Section 404 permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

City of Anchorage Fined $40,300 for Failing to Properly Manage Hazardous Waste
(Anchorage, Alaska – September 30, 2008) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $40,300 settlement with the Municipality of Anchorage for failure to properly manage hazardous waste at its Anchorage Public Transportation Department Maintenance facility located at 3650 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, Alaska.

Idaho

Tamarack Resort Pays $185,000 Penalty for Storm Water Violations
(Boise, Idaho – January 24, 2008) Tamarack Resort LLC, located approximately 100 miles north of Boise, Idaho, has agreed to pay the United States $185,000 to resolve storm water violations discovered on the resort’s property in 2005 and 2006. The Justice Department and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) agreement also calls for Tamarack to restrict its winter construction schedule this year and upgrade its “Best Management Practices” for future winter construction seasons.

Idaho Property Owner and Contractor Fined $40,000 for Wetlands Violations
(Ponderay, Idaho – April 28, 2008) Robin S. Behrens, Charles E. Kramer and C.E. Kramer and Contracting, Inc., of Bonner County, Idaho have reached a $40,000 settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act. The violations involved filling wetlands on Robin Behrens’ property near Lake Pend Oreille without a permit.

Idaho Transportation Dept Pays $325,000 Penalty for Storm Water Violations
(Mica, Idaho – July 8, 2008) The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) will pay $325,000 in additional penalties for numerous violations of a 2006 Clean Water Act Consent Decree. The Consent Decree was the result of Clean Water Act violations by ITD and its contractor from 2001 to 2003, committed during the “Mica to Bellgrove” Highway 95 realignment project in northern Idaho.

Idaho Utilities and Contractors Fined $14,950 for Storm Water Violations
(Hayden, Idaho – July 23, 2008) Lakes Highway District, SI Construction, and Hayden Lake Recreational Water and Sewer District, operators at a Hayden, Idaho construction site, paid $14,950 to settle a Clean Water Act case with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The case arose from an EPA storm water compliance inspection at the Lancaster Road Phase I construction site in March.

Oregon

Wilco-Winfield LLC to Pay over $18,000 for Violating Federal Pesticide Rules
(Mt. Angel, Oregon – August 25, 2008) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reached an $18,400 settlement with Wilco-Winfield, LLC (formerly Wilco-Farmers/Agriliance) for violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Wilco-Winfield had been producing pesticides in an unregistered establishment and selling pesticides which were misbranded.

Truax Oil, Inc. Fined $137,500 for Fuel Spill near Roseburg, Oregon
(Corvallis, Oregon – September 17, 2008) The U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), lodged a Consent Decree in federal court to settle alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act by Truax Oil, Inc. Truax is a petroleum marketer based in Corvallis, Oregon. Truax has agreed to pay a $137,500 penalty to the United States and the State of Oregon. According to court papers, the government alleged that the violations occurred on March 11, 2006, when a Truax tanker truck struck a guardrail, overturned and caught fire, resulting in the release of approximately 11,000 gallons of fuel (9,000 gal of gasoline and 2,000 gal of diesel).

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This entry was posted on Thursday, December 4th, 2008 at 5:06 pm by cdunagan and is filed under Business and industry, Land use, Litter and debris, Pollution and spills, Sediments, Stormwater. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.