  |
|
|
Department of Ecology News Release - January 22, 2010
10-009
OLYMPIA – A shipbuilding company with problems keeping pollutants out of its stormwater discharges in Tacoma is being fined $50,000 by the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology).
Between August 2008 and August 2009, Ecology found that J.M. Martinac Shipbuilding discharged higher levels of copper, zinc and oils and greases than the company's stormwater permit allows. In some cases, the monthly monitoring reports show the water's pH balance (acid/alkaline) outside the acceptable range for legal discharge or no samples taken at all.
Stormwater permits set limits on the level of pollutants that can be discharged from a facility. The limits are determined by a number of factors, including environmental impacts.
Martinac discharges stormwater directly to the ground. At this time, monitoring data indicates groundwater hasn't been impacted. Ecology took enforcement action to prevent these pollutants from entering the ground water.
Metals like copper and zinc are important to keep out of water because they have the potential to harm salmon and aquatic life.
"Ecology is serious about protecting water quality, and our staff offer technical assistance to help companies stay within their permit limits," said Kelly Susewind, Ecology's manager for the Water Quality Program. "We gave Martinac plenty of notice that things were going wrong before resorting to a penalty."
Ecology notified the company of its violations in seven separate letters and provided technical assistance in at least two separate inspections, but problems continued.
The shipbuilder primarily builds new tugboats at its facility. Activities that generate pollutants include welding, cutting, machining, sandblasting and painting.
J.M. Martinac has 30 days to respond to Ecology's penalty. The company can pay the fine, request Ecology's reconsideration or file an appeal with the Pollution Control Hearings Board.
The money collected from water quality penalties funds grants to local environmental enhancement and restoration projects sponsored by local governments, tribes and other state agencies.
###
Media Contact: Kim Schmanke, 360-407-6239 (desk)
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
