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Department of Ecology News Release - April 24, 2006
06-069
OLYMPIA - Wastewater sludge from the Aberdeen sewer plant released into Grays Harbor during late December led to weeks of pollution problems and a shellfish closure.
The Department of Ecology (Ecology) has fined the city $36,000 for the pollution, noting that the release violated the plant's permit on 16 counts.
The release occurred while the city was completing a construction project at the plant. A sewer plant operator left a valve open allowing sludge which was temporarily being stored in a tank to drain through the treatment plant and out the outfall. The massive amount of sludge upset the plant's ability to treat the normal flow of wastewater for several weeks.
The city failed to immediately notify the state departments of Health and Ecology of the pollution and was late in turning in a written report about the incident. Immediate reporting to state authorities is critical in protecting the public and the environment.
The incident occurred on December 27, 2005, but the city did not notify the state Department of Health until December 29. The Health Department then closed the central bay of Grays Harbor to shellfishing for seven days. Ecology learned about the discharge from the Health Department. The city is required to notify Ecology directly under these circumstances.
"Wastewater treatment plant managers have a big responsibility to let us know when things like this happen," said Dave Peeler, manager of Ecology's water quality program. "If we don't know about it, we can't take steps to protect public health and the environment."
Aberdeen has 30 days to apply for relief and appeal the penalty 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.
