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Department of Ecology News Release - October 29, 2001
01-185
SPOKANE - A Warden man who was fined $12,000 for illegally discharging polluted waste water from a cattle feedlot into Lind Coulee will use much of that penalty amount to solve a different environmental problem.
Finn Clausen of Stokrose Farms received the penalty from the state Department of Ecology (Ecology) last May for discharging untreated waste water from a storage lagoon on land he rents to the Coulee Cattle Feeders Feedlot. In addition, Clausen had dumped soil and concrete into the coulee to build up a road that crossed the water.
Clausen appealed his fine to the state's Pollution Control Hearings Board. A settlement has been reached that resolves the appeal.
Under the settlement, Clausen does not admit guilt, but has agreed to pay $2,700 of his penalty. The remaining $9,300 will be used to repair the damage to Lind Coulee and to build a crappie rearing pond.
Crappies are popular warm-water game fish that attract thousands of anglers to the Grant County area every year.
The rearing pond will be built at the mouth of Lind Coulee, where it enters the Potholes Reservoir. The reservoir eventually discharges to the South Columbia Irrigation District, where the water is used for irrigation.
As a way to pay his fine and benefit the environment at the same time, Clausen will work with state biologists and others to help build the habitat for young crappies using his own equipment, labor and materials. Most of the $9,300 will go toward this project.
The remainder of the $9,300 will pay for repairs to Lind Coulee itself. Clausen will stabilize the crossing so that further erosion doesn't occur.
Under the terms of the settlement, the work must be done by June 2002.
Contact: Jani Gilbert, public information Manager, 509-456-4464; pager, 509-622-1289
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
