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Department of Ecology News Release - Jan. 27, 2004
04-024
BELLEVUE - The Department of Ecology (Ecology) has fined National Food Corporation $54,000 for releasing excessive levels of pollution from its egg-processing plant in Arlington.
The company is paying installments on a 2002 penalty for similar violations.
Pollution in the egg processor's waste water reached more than twice the maximum level allowed under a state permit. The permit requires pre-treatment of the plant's waste water before it enters a Marysville sewer line. Ecology cited National Food for nine violations that occurred from October 2002 to July 2003.
"Continuing to violate the permit and pay penalties is not acceptable," said Dick Wallace, who manages Ecology's water quality program. "National Food must change how it operates its wastewater treatment system to correct these ongoing problems."
National Food violated its permit limit for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) five times and had four violations for total suspended solids (TSS).
BOD measurements indicate levels of pollutants that draw oxygen out of the water. Fish and other aquatic life can't live without enough oxygen. TSS also affects oxygen levels and can suffocate fish by clogging their gills, block light so fish can't find prey, and clog stream-bed spaces needed for fish eggs and other organisms.
Excessive pollution from industrial facilities can overwhelm the city wastewater-treatment plant and prevent it from meeting water quality standards.
The company may appeal this penalty to Ecology within 15 days and to the state Pollution Control Hearings Board within 30 days.
National Food appealed Ecology's 2002 penalty of $109,000. Both sides agreed to a settlement that set the fine at $86,000. In late November 2003, the company paid the first of four annual installments on that amount.
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Contact: Larry Altose, public information officer, 425-649-7009; pager, 206-663-1785
Ecology's May 6, 2002, news release: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2002news/2002-075.html
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
