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Department of Ecology News Release - December 7, 2004
04-223
BELLEVUE - Janicki Industries Inc. of Sedro-Woolley must pay a $40,000 fine for spilling polyester styrene resin into the city sewer system earlier this year and not reporting it.
The Department of Ecology (Ecology) penalty also cites the high-tech parts manufacturer for operating without notifying the state that it generates dangerous wastes and for not having a spill-response plan.
The spill occurred on March 19 at Janicki's facility on Sunset Park Drive, when five to 30 gallons of polyester styrene resin leaked out of a container through an open valve. The highly ignitable and strong-smelling material flowed through a floor drain into a city sewer line.
Employees at the Sedro-Woolley wastewater-treatment plant noticed the odor the next day. The styrene could have damaged the treatment process and caused the plant to release improperly treated waste water into the Skagit River.
City staff traced the source to the Janicki facility six days later and notified Ecology, which inspected the plant and directed the company to take steps to fulfill Washington's dangerous-waste requirements.
"Janicki is cooperating and coming into compliance," said Darin Rice, who manages Ecology's hazardous-waste program. "This facility avoided costs of properly managing dangerous waste for a long time. Because of this, a spill went off-site and put public safety, health and the environment at risk."
Ecology also has ordered the company to analyze its dangerous-waste handling and to prepare and implement a plan to upgrade its procedures and training.
"We regret the spill of resin into the sanitary sewer system," said John Hunter, safety and facilities manager for Janicki. "The city advised us of the spill and we immediately informed the city to choose a contractor to perform the cleanup at our expense. We have taken steps to ensure that this type of incident can not occur again. Janicki Industries has always tried to respond quickly and responsibly to concerns for public safety."
Janicki may appeal the penalty, the order or both to Ecology and to the state Pollution Control Hearings Board within 30 days.
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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.
