The owner of a sand-and-gravel pit in Auburn, Wash., has been fined $18,000 by the state of Washington for failing to put safeguards in place to protect water quality on a site near the White River.
The state of Washington’s Department of Ecology issued the penalty to ICON Materials Inc. for failing to submit a stormwater management plan, for failing to prevent erosion, and for not evaluating the site's capacity to handle storm water and waste water.
"These safeguards are crucial to assure that polluted water is contained and doesn't leave the site," said Kelly Susewind, an Ecology water-quality program manager.
Waste and storm waters from the pit contain residue from sand, gravel, concrete and asphalt. The residues could degrade water quality and harm fish habitat if they were allowed to flow into local streams.
ICON Materials has 15 days to apply for relief from the penalty and 30 days to appeal it to the state Pollution Control Hearings Board.