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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Nov. 23, 1999
99-248
Contacts: Sandy Howard, public information manager, 360-407-6239; pager, 360-786-3136
OLYMPIA - The state Department of Ecology (Ecology) has penalized a Tacoma oil refinery $14,000 and ordered changes in the way the facility manages hazardous waste.
By allowing a 2,000-pound pile of chromium-contaminated waste to remain uncontained on its site for five months, Sound Refining, Inc. created the potential to contaminate storm water that drains into Hylebos Waterway.
Chromium is a metal that is toxic to humans and aquatic life.
Ecology inspectors found the waste after routine sampling of storm water revealed unusually low pH levels. The source was tracked to a pile of "sulpha treat" that was allowed to sit unprotected on top of some clean dirt. Sulpha treat is a catalyst that reduces sulphur in petroleum products.
Later tests revealed that leachate produced from the waste pile contained levels of the hazardous metal chromium in excess of the dangerous-waste criteria.
"We have worked hard to reduce toxic metals in Commencement Bay. Industry behaviors like this indicate that Ecology's vigilance is still necessary to block the sources of pollution to the bay," said Cullen Stephenson, manager of Ecology's industrial solid-waste program.
Earlier this year, an Ecology study revealed that water in Commencement Bay contains about 90 percent less toxic metals than it did in 1984.
Ecology found that Sound Refining, Inc. violated state dangerous-waste regulations for not properly containing, inspecting and storing dangerous waste. The company also violated water quality regulations for violating conditions of its stormwater permit.
Sound Refining is located at 2628 Marine View Dr., in Tacoma.
The company has 30 days to appeal the action to the state Pollution Control Hearings Board.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
