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Department of Ecology News Release - October 6, 2004
04-185
BELLEVUE - The Department of Corrections (DOC) will upgrade the way it manages and operates its wastewater treatment plants to exceed regulatory requirements within six months.
The plan is part of an agreement with the Department of Ecology (Ecology) to settle a $60,000 penalty issued by Ecology in January for violations at DOC's McNeil Island Corrections Center wastewater treatment plant. The settlement applies to all of DOC's wastewater plants, which are located at seven of its corrections centers.
"We applaud DOC's commitment to improve water-quality protection at its in-house treatment plants," said Dave Peeler, who manages Ecology's water quality program. "The best wastewater plants reflect strong dedication by the people who run and oversee them."
DOC will hire a consultant to audit the seven plants and draw up plans for improved management, staff training and operations. The consultant will also conduct the specified training. Each facility will aim to achieve "exemplary management practices," a higher system of checks and balances than the industry-standard "best management practices."
"I am confident the improved management practices DOC is implementing at all of our wastewater treatment facilities will reduce the likelihood of this occurring in the future." said Joe Lehman, secretary of the Department of Corrections.
DOC will pay $12,000 of the original penalty amount. The money goes into the Coastal Protection Fund and is used for restoration projects related to water quality in Washington State.
Ecology fined the McNeil Island facility because monthly monitoring reports contained false information and because the plant violated pollution limits in the water it discharged. DOC responded to the violations by upgrading the plant, tightening oversight, holding responsible employees accountable and improving record-keeping.
DOC operates wastewater treatment plants at the Cedar Creek Corrections Center in Littlerock, Clallam Bay Corrections Center, Larch Corrections Center in Yacolt, McNeil Island Corrections Center in Steilacoom, Monroe Corrections Complex, Olympic Corrections Center in Forks and Washington Corrections Center in Shelton
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Contact: Larry Altose, public information officer, 425-649-7009; pager, 206-663-1785
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
