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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Aug. 19, 1999
99-167
CONTACT: Jani Gilbert, Public Information Manager, 509-456-4464; pager, 509-622-1289
SPOKANE--A Ritzville man who burned tires, batteries, appliances, car parts and other household garbage in May 1998 received a fine this week of $12,000 from the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology).
Ronald E. Newton was penalized for several days of burning prohibited materials in a large pile. The fire was reported by a passer-by concerned about the toxic nature of the smoke. It was located in a gully northeast of the intersection of Wellesandt and Drury roads.
"Burning the kinds of materials we saw in this fire is extremely toxic to people," said Grant Pfeifer, Ecology's air quality supervisor for Eastern Washington. "Smoke of any kind is unhealthful. When you add to it the constituents of plastic, rubber and other materials, dozens of chemicals are released and many of them are known or suspected cancer-causing agents."
Newton is also being required by the Adams County Health District to clean up the site.
The fire reportedly was started on May 24, 1998 and was reported to Ecology on May 27, 1998. Ecology investigated on May 28th and documented the prohibited materials found in the fire. The Adams County Health District inspected the site a few days later and found the pile still smoking. Altogether it burned for at least nine days.
Newton can apply to Ecology for relief from this penalty within 15 days or he may appeal the penalty to the state Pollution Control Hearings Board within 30 days.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
