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Department of Ecology News Release - Aug. 10, 2000
00-162
OLYMPIA - The state Department of Ecology (Ecology) has fined the owner of Reiger Poultry Farm of Rochester $5,000 for spilling oil to a tributary of Lincoln Creek in April.
The spill occurred when a pump was not shut off during the transfer of oil from one fuel tank to another. Ecology estimates that 500 gallons of oil went directly into a tributary of Lincoln Creek, but altogether about 5,000 gallons spilled in and around the site on April 25 and 26.
Reiger used the recycled motor oil to fuel a furnace to heat a chicken barn.
"We are convinced this was simply a grave mistake, but it was preventable and the fine is consistent with our policies about penalties for oil spills," said Eric Heinitz, spills manager with the Department of Ecology.
Reiger hired an environmental cleanup company to remove as much of the oil as possible from the site. Since Reiger carried no insurance to protect him from an oil spill, the state had to step in to pay the cost of the cleanup. The cleanup price tag, including Ecology staff time, is estimated at nearly $200,000.
The creek, part of the Chehalis River watershed, is home to coho salmon and steelhead trout. Shortly after the spill, several coho fry were found dead in and around the creek, but many surviving fry were also found.
Recycled motor oil contains multiple ingredients, all toxic to the environment.
The owner has 30 days to appeal the fine to the state Pollution Control Hearings Board. If paid, the $5,000 penalty will be sent to the state's Coastal Protection Fund, which is used for environmental restoration projects.
Contact: Sandy Howard, public information manager, 360-407-6239
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
