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Department of Ecology News Release - May 22, 2007
07-136
OLYMPIA - A Battle Ground sand and gravel mining operation received a $43,000 penalty from the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) for committing serious water quality violations that resulted in pollution of a nearby creek.
The operators of the Tebo Brothers Pit failed to properly monitor the "turbidity" - or clarity - of the water it empties from its treatment ponds. These types of ponds help gravel, sand and other particles settle out of the mine's processing water before it is discharged back to the environment.
The pit operator also admitted to pumping from the treatment ponds without monitoring the water level in the ponds. In some instances, the pond emptied before the pump was turned off, and the pump began pulling sediment from the bottom of the pond.
As a result, Tebo Brothers' discharges to Manly Creek violated water quality standards.
J.L. Storedahl and Sons, which operates the pit, failed to document these issues in the reports required by its sand and gravel permit. The reports it filed claim that all discharges met the permitted limits for turbidity, contradicting results taken during Ecology's investigation.
Ecology made several attempts to help Tebo Brothers fix these problems, including outlining steps the pit operators could take to address the issues. However, Tebo Brothers did not follow directions from Ecology to document its corrective actions, and a follow up visit indicated problems remain.
"Tebo Brothers Pit has acknowledged its problems, but still it fails to meet the requirements of its sand and gravel permit," explained Kelly Susewind, a manger in Ecology's water quality program. "These are very serious water quality violations, and hopefully this penalty spurs them to improve their operations."
Along with the fine, Ecology is issuing an administrative order requiring the pit to meet its permit requirements, clean the sediment from the ponds, and install an automatic shutoff for the pump when turbidity levels reach a certain point as well as a backup water treatment system.
Tebo Brothers Pit has 30 days to file an application for relief to Ecology or appeal the penalty to the Pollution Control Hearings Board.
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Contact: Kim Schmanke, public information, 360-407-6239
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
