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Department of Ecology News Release - May 13, 2009
09-107
OLYMPIA – The Department of Ecology (Ecology) has fined Duckworth Pump and Well Drilling (Duckworth) of Poulsbo $15,000 for violations that occurred over several years involving well sites in Jefferson, Kitsap and Mason counties.
The company failed to report – or submitted late reports – on wells it had drilled or decommissioned on 30 jobs in the three counties from 1993 to 2009. During that period, Ecology issued numerous written and verbal warnings, and in 2003 suspended the owner’s license for six months and fined the company $6,800.
“Reporting is a basic part of every Washington well driller’s business,” said Bill Lum, who coordinates Ecology’s well construction and licensing program. “The state relies on these reports for public information on size, location, depth, water level and date of wells everywhere in the state. And customers rely on them for assurance of a legal water supply.”
Duckworth responded to the penalty – issued in March – with the missing information, which Ecology is reviewing. The penalty also may be appealed to the Washington State Pollution Control Hearings Board.
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Media Contact: Larry Altose, Ecology media relations, 425-649-7009
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
