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Department of Ecology News Release - May 13, 2008
08-125
OLYMPIA – A Shelton man’s failure to take responsibility when his fishing vessel sank last year resulted in a $12,000 penalty from the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology).
Maures Tinaza owns the 30-foot fishing vessel that sank on March 4, 2007, in the Pleasant Harbor area of Jefferson County.
Ecology spill responders made several attempts, without success, to contact Tinaza to involve him in decisions about the necessary cleanup.
With the boat leaking oil and gasoline, Ecology hired a contractor March 4 to remove the fuel from the submerged vessel. The contractor could not access fuel tanks because the boat was upside down, so the contractor removed the boat and turned it over to the Washington Department of Natural Resources as a derelict vessel.
The penalty against Tinaza reflects multiple violations: unlawfully spilling oil to state waters, failing to notify appropriate authorities about the spill, and failure take responsibility for cleaning up the spill and salvage his vessel.
In addition to the penalty, Ecology is seeking nearly $16,000 in reimbursement from Tinaza for the costs of the cleanup and response.
If he does not choose to pay, Tinaza can file a motion for reconsideration with Ecology. He can also appeal the penalty to the state Pollution Control Hearings Board. Any action must take place within the next 30 days.
Coast Guard records show that another of Tinaza’s fishing boats sank at the Hood Canal Marina in January 2003. The records show he failed to hire a contractor to remove the fuel and salvage his boat. The Coast Guard issued a penalty for that incident.
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Media Contacts: Kim Schmanke, Ecology media relations, 360-407-6239
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
