Two Puget Sound-area waste handlers owned by Emerald Services, Inc. have been fined by the state of Washington’s Department of Ecology for violating state dangerous-waste regulations.
Seattle's Emerald Petroleum Services, Inc., an oil recycler located on Airport Way South, was fined $42,500 for illegally accepting dangerous waste, performing inadequate training and waste analysis, and failing to follow established procedures.
The inadequacies contributed to the facility's illegal discharge of about 77,000 gallons of chromium-tainted wastewater to King County's West Point wastewater treatment plant. The firm had violated a King County industrial wastewater discharge permit by accepting the waste.
In addition to the penalty, Ecology ordered the firm to conduct and submit an analysis of the causes of the inadequacies within 30 days.
Emerald Services, Tacoma, was fined $28,500 for multiple violations of its dangerous-waste treatment, storage and disposal permit. The permit is issued and enforced by Ecology.
Ecology's inspection found the waste handler had failed to provide proper waste analysis, tracking, storage, staff training and notification of releases. In one case, the facility had accepted wastes containing suspected biological hazards without proper screening, as required by permit.
"Emerald has acknowledged the seriousness of the violations and is actively working with us to fix the problems that we've identified," said Greg Sorlie, who manages Ecology's hazardous-waste program. "I wish all waste handlers were as responsive."
Sorlie said that many of the violations are similar to problems recently found at other Western Washington waste handlers and that Emerald Services is taking quick steps to solve the problems early. In addition, Emerald has a fully funded insurance and closure plan at both facilities.
"We're making some progress with our state's waste handlers," said Sorlie. "They provide a valuable service in treating and disposing of hazardous wastes, but we want them to provide this service safely and in accordance with state requirements."