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Department of Ecology News Release - April 8, 2003
03-055
OLYMPIA - Tacoma has agreed to improve the way it manages corrosive ash waste that comes from its steam plant.
As part of this agreement with the state Department of Ecology, the city has been fined $25,000 for improperly disposing large amounts of incinerator ash, for improper sampling procedures of the ash, and for failing to properly designate the waste ash.
The ash is classified as a dangerous waste and was deposited into local landfills that were not equipped to handle dangerous waste.
The ash management problems occurred between 1997 and 2001.
The city's steam plant is currently not operating. It burns coal, wood and garbage to generate electricity.
Through the agreement, the city will establish a stricter sampling and waste-management protocol for the ash, evaluate and approve how the ash is used by those who purchase it, provide training to employees, and establish an annual third-party audit of the plant to assure compliance.
Once the audit is established, $10,000 of the penalty will be credited to the city's costs.
"We appreciate that the city took quick corrective action as soon as the mistakes surfaced," said Greg Sorlie, who manages Ecology's hazardous-waste program. "The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department appropriately made the catch, Ecology was notified, and the situation was dealt with."
He added that the conditions of the agreement provide clarity for proper handling and disposal of the plant's ash from now on.
The city waived rights to appeal the terms of the agreement.
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Contact:Sandy Howard, public information manager, 360-407-6239
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
