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Department of Ecology News Release - October 22, 2001
01-182
OLYMPIA - The Weyerhaeuser Company's Cosmopolis pulp mill has been fined $14,000 by the state Department of Ecology (Ecology) for allowing high levels of fecal coliform bacteria to enter Grays Harbor through its wastewater discharge.
The discharges occurred on June 15, 18, 19 and Aug. 9. The highest of the June discharges was nearly three times the maximum level allowed by the mill's wastewater-discharge permit.
The August discharge was eight times the maximum level, prompting state health officials to close a portion of Grays Harbor to commercial shellfish harvesting for seven days. People can become sick after eating shellfish containing fecal coliform bacteria.
The discharges occurred at the mill's outfall located in the south channel of the inner harbor.
The mill has been fined repeatedly for similar discharges in the past.
"It is abundantly clear to the company that the mill has a problem, and we've been working together to try to fix it," said Carol Kraege, who manages Ecology's industrial section. "Somehow, we need to find a way to help the mill operate without leaving Grays Harbor unfit for harvesting shellfish."
The mill self-reports its monitoring information, as required by its wastewater permit.
Grays Harbor is among the more than 600 most-polluted water bodies in the state. Ecology currently is implementing a water cleanup plan for the harbor.
Contact: Sandy Howard, public information manager, 360-407-6239
Chehalis/Grays Harbor water cleanup planning: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/0110025.html
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
