  |
|
|
Department of Ecology News Release - September 9, 2010
10-233
YAKIMA – Stampede Sand and Gravel LLC of Snohomish, Wash., has been fined $21,000 for water quality violations that occurred during rock crushing and gravel mining operations at the company’s gravel pit near Easton in Kittitas County.
In addition, the company has been ordered by the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) to cease and desist from all operations that cause sediment laden pollution to surface waters.
Stampede Sand and Gravel owns a gravel mining site at 1130 U.S. Forest Service Road 5400, near Easton. Operations at the site are governed by the state’s Sand and Gravel General Permit, which allows process water and storm water to be discharged to groundwater. The permit doesn’t allow discharges of any type to surface water, such as rivers and creeks.
Beginning on April 22, 2010, and continuing several weeks thereafter, Ecology inspectors observed numerous incidents in which excavation operations resulted in muddy water discharging to tributaries and wetlands of the Yakima River.
While operations at the gravel pit were conducted by a number of companies leasing access to the gravel mine, Stampede Sand and Gravel as the permit holder is responsible for preventing pollution to surface waters and for meeting water quality standards at the site.
In May, inspectors notified the company of the violations and, after observing additional violations in June, issued an administrative order on Aug. 2, 2010.
Operators at the site are required to visually monitor for discharges of muddy water, take water samples upstream and downstream if a discharge is observed, and cease operations if turbidity levels violate standards. In addition, they are to record observations and measurements in a logbook and make the information available to Ecology upon request.
Stampede Sand and Gravel has 30 days to pay the penalty or may file an appeal with the Pollution Control Hearings Board.
# # #
Media contacts: Joye Redfield-Wilder, communications manager, (509) 575-2610; jred461@ecy.wa.gov
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
