Kent bakery fined for putting grease down a storm drain

Washington State Department of Ecology

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Department of Ecology News Release - December 21, 2006

06-264

Kent bakery fined for putting grease down a storm drain

BELLEVUE - The Department of Ecology (Ecology) has fined Panaderia La Guadalupaña $15,000 for releasing fats, oils and grease into a storm drain outside the Kent bakery.

The City of Kent traced the source of oily material found in area storm drains to the bakery in mid-2005. City inspectors found that the business was improperly storing and disposing of waste fats, oil and grease, which were entering storm drains.

After repeated inspections, letters and phone calls, the city sought assistance from Ecology. Kent and Ecology inspectors visited the bakery 16 times in 2005 and 2006. They made repeated efforts through visits, phone calls, emails, correction notices and warning letters to end the illegal practices. They included written instructions on how the bakery could end the violations and remain in compliance.

The penalty is based on violations observed during Ecology's four inspections, including:

A thick layer of fats, oils, and grease accumulated inside of and around the storm drain.
Staining and leachate flows into the storm drain from the dumpster.
Open containers of used cooking oil, which was draining into the catch basin.
Pools of mop wash water draining into the catch basin.
Garbage and used grease buckets in surrounding bushes.
A filter "sock" in the catch basin covered in so much grease it had bonded to the catch basin lid.
Two 55-gallon barrels containing used cooking oil with no secondary containment to prevent a release to the storm drain in case of a spill or leak.
Used cooking trays, stored and exposed outside, covered in grease.

Many of these problems have been corrected since the penalty was issued on Nov. 17, 2006.

"The city and Ecology tried again and again to help the bakery end these violations," said Kevin Fitzpatrick, Ecology's regional manager for water quality. "It should not have taken a penalty to prompt corrective action. Hundreds of similar businesses properly handle waste fat, oil and grease every day without any problem."

Last year Kent added fats, oils and grease (FOG) inspections to its existing Private Storm Inspection Program. City inspectors work with businesses to prevent FOG discharges into sanitary sewers and storm drains. The program educates citizens on the critical importance of maintaining these systems. It has helped to reduce sewer and storm drain maintenance costs, prevent blockages and overflows, and protect the waters storm drains flow to.

Solid or semi-solid fats, oils and grease can be put into containers - as long as they don't leak - with regular solid waste. Liquid fats, oils and grease must be collected for pickup by rendering facilities or other firms that handle the waste. They also can be used to produce bio-diesel fuel.

Fats, oils and grease can stop up the storm drain system, and can lower the oxygen content in the water to which the drain line flows. Low oxygen in water can suffocate fish and other aquatic species.

The storm drain that serves Panaderia La Guadalupaña flows to McSorley Creek, which provides habitat for cutthroat trout, and coho and chum salmon. Past measurements of the creek - which flows directly to Puget Sound - have shown its dissolved oxygen does not always meet state water-quality standards.

All Ecology penalties may be appealed within 30 days to the department or to the Washington State Pollution Control Hearings Board.

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Media contact: Larry Altose, Ecology public information, 425-649-7009
Michelle Witham, Kent Neighborhoods Program Manager, 253-856-5709