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Department of Ecology News Release - August 28, 2001
01-146
OLYMPIA - Fields Corporation of Tacoma has been fined $25,000 by the state Department of Ecology (Ecology) for spilling diesel oil down a stormwater ditch last April near Commencement Bay.
The spill was caused because the company failed to monitor the filling of a boiler fuel tank and it overflowed. Up to 400 gallons of diesel oil spilled into catch basins that drained to the ditch at about midnight on April 19. The ditch leads to the Blair Waterway. Only 243 gallons of the oil were recovered.
"Fortunately, no oil got into the bay, but it did get into the standing water in the ditch," said Mike Osweiler, an Ecology spills responder.
The Taylor Way facility processes and manufactures roofing, water-proofing and asphalt-based products. The company uses the boiler to heat, liquefy and help remove viscous asphalt from railroad tank cars. Asphalt is then stored on site for use in manufacturing asphalt-based products.
In addition to the spill, other factors were calculated into the penalty: The company did not notify Ecology and other authorities about the spill until the next morning; the company did not begin recovering the spilled oil until the following morning; and the company has a history of spills in the last decade.
"We believe this company can turn the corner and improve its track record starting right now," Osweiler said.
Fields Corporation may file an application for relief from the penalty with Ecology within 15 days, or may file an appeal within 30 days with the state Pollution Control Hearings Board.
Contact: Sandy Howard, public information manager, 360-407-6239
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
