Environmental penalties issued for the fourth quarter of 2024

OLYMPIA  – 

The Washington Department of Ecology issued $535,125 in penalties of $1,000 or more from Oct. 1 – Dec. 31, 2024. You can find a detailed list of the violations and penalties below. 
 
Ecology works with thousands of businesses and individuals to help them comply with state laws. The agency issues penalties when someone doesn’t comply with the laws after Ecology provides technical assistance or warnings, or for particularly serious violations. 
 
In some cases, a penalty may be reduced through a court ruling or settlement. The penalty amounts go to the state’s general fund or dedicated accounts that help prevent pollution. 
 
Ecology strives to protect, preserve and enhance Washington’s environment, and promote wise management practices to benefit current and future generations. When someone pollutes Washington’s land, air or waters, Ecology enforces state and federal regulations in hopes of changing behavior and deterring future harm. 

 

County	City	Date issued	Recipient	Description	Amount	Media contact
Benton	Richland	12/09/2024	Energy Northwest Columbia Generating Station	A cooling system seal failed the morning of June 13, spilling 282 gallons of lubricating oil. The spill was not reported to the state’s emergency management department until later that evening. A cleanup contractor recovered 137 gallons of oil, but couldn’t collect the remaining 145 gallons, which entered the Columbia River.	$4,000	Emily Tasaka 509-571-0352
Chelan	Manson	12/18/2024	Edwin “Troy” Hawkins, Britt Hawkins, and Sundance Slope, LLC	Edwin “Troy Hawkins, Britt Hawkins, and Sundance Slop LLC were penalized for burning prohibited materials in a burn barrel inside an urban growth area. The burning happened Nov. 16, 2023.	$2,000	Emily Tasaka 509-571-0352
King	Shoreline	12/9/2024	North Star Pro LLC	North Star Pro LLC was penalized for spilling diesel fuel into Ronal Bog in December 2023. Approximately 150 gallons of diesel spilled because of a semi-truck collision on I-5, with 19 gallons reaching the bog because of the company’s insufficient follow-up.	$1,300	Jessica Kulaas 360-515-6868
King	Seattle	12/16/2024	Northlake Shipyard	Ecology inspectors found that Northlake Shipyard failed to protect water quality in Lake Union. This included allowing polluted water to enter and mishandling toxic chemicals. News release	$112,000	Scarlet Tang 206-920-2600
Kitsap	Kingston	10/28/2024	Douglas Wayne Smith	Douglas Wayne Smith was penalized for allowing his vessel to go aground and discharge gasoline into Appletree Cove in November 2022. After the boat sank, it broke apart, releasing fuel into the water. Smith failed to report the spill and did not take immediate action to contain or remove the oil, which contaminated the environment.	$4,800	Jessica Kulaas 360-515-6868
Pacific	Raymond	11/26/2024	Willapa Bay Properties LLC	Willapa Bay Properties LLC violated its stormwater permit by continuously discharging muddy water from its site. The muddy water caused repeated driving impacts to US 101.	$2,500	Brittny Goodsell 360-280-3704
Pierce	Puyallup	11/21/2024	Pennon Construction	Pennon Construction failed to implement and use best management practices at the Summit Centre construction project. These practices included not stabilizing soils, maintaining perimeter fencing, controlling pollutants, and submitting required monthly monitoring reports	$2,500	Brittny Goodsell 360-280-3704
Pierce	Tacoma	12/16/2024	Tru Grit Abrasives, Inc.	Industrial company Tru Grit Abrasives received a penalty for six environmental violations. The company didn’t properly manage stormwater that eventually flows into the Hylebos Waterway. This water came in contact with industrial materials and activities, and had high concentrations of copper and zinc. In addition, employees didn’t treat and monitor stormwater during two specific monitoring periods because of a broken water pump. The company failed to report the issue to Ecology within the time its permit required.	$8,000	Brittny Goodsell 360-280-3704
Snohomish	Everett	10/03/2024	Tammie Gannon	Tammie Gannon allowed the abandoned tugboat Excaliber to sink in Steamboat Slough in September 2022, causing an ongoing oil spill. Gannon failed to report the spill or take action to remove the pollutants, leading to environmental contamination.	$5,600	Jessica Kulaas 360-515-6868
Snohomish	Monroe	12/6/2024	Purcell Tire NW, Inc.	Purcell Tire Service Center was penalized for spilling hydraulic oil into Lake Tye in January 2023. After a hydraulic line broke on a tow truck, crew members improperly washed the spill toward the drain, allowing three gallons of oil to reach the lake. Purcell also failed to report the spill, delaying cleanup efforts.	$1,200	Jessica Kulaas 360-515-6868
Whatcom	Lynden	10/16/2024	RAN General Partnership	RAN General Partnership illegally irrigated about 40 acres of blueberries in 2024, despite a cease-and-desist order and a previous penalty for the same illegal water use in 2023. News release	$20,000	Scarlet Tang 206-920-2600
Whitman	SR 195, near Colfax	12/10/2024	Coleman Oil Company, LLC	Coleman Oil Company, LLC was penalized for spilling 2,013 gallons of gasoline and diesel near Colfax in January 2023 after a tanker truck accident. The spill contaminated roadside soil and a ditch connected to Spring Flat Creek. Coleman Oil failed to report the spill within the required one-hour timeframe, delaying response efforts. News Release	$12,000	Jessica Kulaas 360-515-6868

The following businesses were out of compliance with Washington's post-consumer recycled content law (RCW 70A.245 and WAC 173-925) and were issued penalties on Oct. 2, 2024. They did not meet the minimum 10% requirement for recycled content in their trash bags in 2023. Contact Dave Bennett at dave.bennett@ecy.wa.gov for more information. 

Business	Penalty amount
The Clorox Company	$67,196
Uline Inc.	$14,991

In addition to the penalties above, the following businesses were penalized Oct. 2, 2024, for not following all or part of Washington’s post-consumer recycled content law. This means they did not meet minimum 15% requirement for recycled content in their beverage containers in 2023. Contact Dave Bennett at dave.bennett@ecy.wa.gov for questions about the information below. 

Business	Penalty amount
Talking Rain Beverage Co.	$59,831
Welch Foods Inc.	$2,050
Walgreen Co.	$1,206
Tradin Organic	$3,275
Trader Joe’s Corporation	$2,381
Topco Associates LLC	$2,098
The Kroger Co.	$9,021
Admiral Beverage Corporation	$4,630
Albertsons Companies	$41,954
Arcadia Farms LLC	$1,229
Arizona Beverages USA	$6,391
Danone US LLC	$6,285
good2grow LLC	$2,953
HP Hood LLC	$6,681
Kraft Heinz Foods Company	$3,697
KSF Acquisition Corp	$24,582
Lassonde Pappas & Company Inc	$5,646
Milos Tea Company Inc	$5,644
Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc Corporation	$53,568
Sazerac Company Inc	$3,2758
Richardson Bottling Co. Dba: Mountain Mist	$1,658