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Department of Ecology News Release - Nov. 12, 2003
03-219
OLYMPIA - A Kelso poultry processor and a sand-and-gravel mine have each been fined for discharging excessive amounts of pollution.
Foster Farms, located at 1700 S. 13th Ave., was fined $12,000 by the state Department of Ecology (Ecology) for releasing more than its share of pollution to the Cowlitz sewer plant in July. The sewer plant must meet its own pollution limits to protect water quality in the Columbia River, where it discharges.
The fine was preceded by technical advice from Ecology and several written notices to the company about intermittent pollution problems dating back to 1998, according to Kelly Susewind, a water-quality manager for Ecology.
Foster Farms has worked to correct the problems identified by Ecology, according to James Marnatti, Foster Farms' environmental affairs manager.
Alpine Redi-Mix Inc., of 2224 Talley Way, was fined $18,464 for discharging waste water directly onto the ground, for operating without a discharge permit, for failing to pay for the permit and for failing to monitor or submit discharge reports.
The company's caustic waste water is supposed to be discharged into a lined pond and then neutralized before it is discharged onto the ground and allowed to infiltrate the ground. Without these measures, the waste water can potentially contaminate underground water.
Other sand-and-gravel companies are required to meet their permit requirements to protect water quality, and Alpine Redi-Mix is no exception, Susewind said.
Each company has 15 days to apply for relief from its penalty and 30 days to appeal it to the state Pollution Control Hearings Board.
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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.
