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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 24, 1995
95-163
CONTACT:
Deborah Cornett (509) 456-2877
Mary Getchell (360) 407-6157
PEND OREILLE COUNTY PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT AND ECOLOGY REACH A SETTLEMENT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
SPOKANE, WA -- The Washington Department of Ecology and Public Utility District No. 1 in Pend Oreille County recently reached settlement on a penalty issued by Ecology for water quality violations. The Public Utility District agreed to install needed fish habitat structures in Sullivan Creek. The project included securing tree roots to the bank of the creek, placing boulders and installing log structures to improve the summer rearing habitat and shelter for juvenile and adult fish. In lieu of paying an $18,000 penalty to Washington state's general fund, the utility district agreed to complete the local environmental restoration.
"Anytime the environment is harmed, it's a very positive result if a financial penalty is actually put towards helping the environment. We're pleased this agreement was reached and we're working well with the utility district to ensure such violations are prevented in the future," said Mary Riveland, Ecology's director.
In January Ecology issued an $18,000 penalty to the Public Utility District for erosion control violations that occurred when the utility district rehabilitated the Lake Sullivan Dam. Ecology issued the penalty because the utility district violated the terms of its short term water quality standards modification by not complying with the conditions related to sediment and erosion control.
The violations resulted in damage to aquatic resources, such as fish and water quality. The dam rehabilitation was required by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and precedes the Sullivan Creek Hydroelectric project.
The utility district completed the restoration project on September 30.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
