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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Aug. 25, 1999
99-170
Contact: Kevin Fitzpatrick, Water Quality Program, (425) 649-7037
Ron Langley, Public Information, (425) 649-7009, Pager (206) 663-1785
BELLEVUE - The state Department of Ecology (Ecology) has fined a Stanwood medical supply company $40,000 and ordered it to stop sending mercury and other hazardous wastes into the Stanwood sewer system.
A consultant working for Stanwood became suspicious last May when he found a blue-colored liquid with a strong formaldehyde odor in the sewer system outside of the Biesecker Biochemical Co. facility. Laboratory tests on the liquid revealed mercury, and inspectors found blue-colored liquids, formaldehyde and mercury at the Biesecker plant. Subsequent samples from the Stanwood wastewater-treatment plant confirmed mercury at 10 times the state water-quality standard flowing into the Stillaguamish River.
The flow of mercury from the plant stopped after the inspection and inquiries from Ecology.
"This is a major violation of water quality requirements and a potential threat to both people and the environment," said John Glynn, an Ecology water-quality manager. "Biesecker supplies products to hospitals and laboratories, so they should know the importance of properly handling and disposing of hazardous materials."
Mercury can affect the human nervous system and is also a possible human carcinogen. It can accumulate in the tissues of shellfish, which is of concern because shellfish beds are located in south Skagit Bay, which receives a portion of the treated wastewater from the Stanwood treatment plant via the Stillaguamish River. The potential for human exposure in this case is limited, however, because of the long distance to the nearest shellfish beds and because the area is difficult for the public to reach.
Biesecker Biochemical was assessed a $20,000 penalty for not having a state waste-discharge permit, which limits the types and amounts of untreated wastes that can be disposed of in a sewer system. Another $20,000 fine was assessed for improperly handling and disposing hazardous materials and hazardous waste.
The company has 15 days to apply to Ecology to have the penalties reduced, and also may appeal them to the state Pollution Control Hearings Board within 30 days.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
