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Department of Ecology News Release - February 2, 2010
10-015
BELLEVUE – The owner of a former used-oil processing center in Seattle will complete a salmon habitat-restoration project for Chelan County, near his home, as part of settlement agreement between his company and the Department of Ecology (Ecology).
Ecology fined Basin Oil Corp. $41,000 in 2008 for violating used-oil storage requirements at its south Seattle facility, which closed in 2004. The company appealed, and both sides have signed an agreement to settle the penalty for $30,000. The settlement – which avoids further legal costs for both parties – consists of cash payments and an in-kind project, called an innovative settlement.
Basin Oil owner and president Terry Drexler will pay Ecology $17,000 over 18 months. He also will provide $13,000 of construction services to Chelan County to complete the Nason Creek Oxbow Reconnection.
“This settlement avoids expensive litigation and benefits Washington’s environment overall,” said K Seiler, who manages Ecology’s hazardous waste and toxics reduction program. “We’re pleased the county had a salmon restoration project that could benefit from Mr. Drexler’s services.”
The county project reconnected an oxbow to Nason Creek, about a mile north of Coles Corner. The project added nearly three acres of off-channel habitat for young migrating fish, including Chinook salmon and steelhead, which are listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act.
In that project, gravel and earth – used to place large fish-friendly culverts under State Route 207 – was left behind, some of which is lodged against pine trees, which can harm them. Drexler will provide work time and equipment to remove the material and pile some of it to block vehicle access to the area. He also will consolidate gravel from a county stockpile site.
The work will take place this spring and summer. The project will make $13,000 in limited county funds available for other proposed salmon restoration projects.
"I am pleased, not only to end this legal dispute with the Department of Ecology, but to also be able to contribute services which will help Chelan County meet its salmon restoration goals,” said Drexler. “It is not always the case that government and citizens can come together in a win/win combination. This is one time that did happen and I look forward to helping Chelan County, as promised in my agreement with Ecology."
“We appreciate this opportunity to complete another item on our project,” said Alan Schmidt, Habitat Project Manager of the Chelan County Natural Resource Department. “All parties benefit from this solution.”
The penalty and settlement are part of Ecology's broader efforts to reduce and prevent toxic threats to the environment, and to meet the state's goal of restoring Puget Sound by 2020. Basin Oil operated near the Duwamish River, which flows to Elliott Bay on Puget Sound.
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Media Contacts:
Larry Altose, Ecology media relations, 206-920-2600
Basin Oil Representative: Jeffrey Keane, Keane Law Offices 206-438-3737
Alan Schmidt, Habitat Manger, Chelan County Natural Resource Department, 509-667-6567
Dec. 4, 2008 news release on the original penalty: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2008news/2008-318.html
Editors, reporters: The letter K is the full and correct spelling of Ms. Seiler’s first name.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
