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Department of Ecology News Release - December 16, 2004
04-230
OLYMPIA - A paint manufacturer in Battle Ground has been fined $21,000 by the state Department of Ecology (Ecology) for discarding paint rinse water in a sewer line and also allowing paint to contaminate storm water.
Paint that was traced to Cascade Paint and Supply Inc. turned up at the Salmon Creek wastewater treatment plant last January. Workers from Battle Ground public works and Hazel Dell sewer district tracked it to a sewer line near the firm.
"Sewer plants are designed to treat dirty water from our sinks and our bathrooms, they aren't designed to separate paint from the water," said Kelly Susewind, a manager in Ecology's water quality program. "Paint should not be poured down the drain at all."
Though the sewer plant discharges its treated water into Columbia River, it is unknown how much, if any, paint got into the river. Cascade Paint workers have confessed to dumping a 250-gallon container of paint rinse water into the sewer line.
Susewind said the firm normally recycles its paint waste back into its paint-making operations. Any residue that cannot be recycled is supposed to be allowed to dry so it can be properly disposed in an approved landfill.
Ecology also cited the firm for allowing paint residue to wash into storm drains and for operating without a stormwater permit. The firm's storm water goes into nearby roadside ditches.
Along with the penalty, Cascade was ordered to immediately cease discharging paint and to apply for a stormwater permit.
The firm has 30 days to appeal the penalty to Ecology or to the 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.
