Health and Safety News

Ferndale Company Fined $56,000 For Hazardous Waste Violations
Release Date: November 17, 2005

The Department of Ecology (Ecology) has fined a trailer-manufacturing business near Ferndale $56,000 for allowing solvent to drain into the ground and for other repeated hazardous waste violations at its facility near Ferndale.

Magnum Trailers Co. poured used solvent from cleaning paint sprayers onto a plywood board to evaporate, and some of the liquid drained to the ground. Washington's hazardous waste law requires businesses to place used chemicals in safe containers for disposal with authorized contractors or county waste programs.

"We visited three times and explained how the business could fix the problems on its own, yet the violations continued," said Darin Rice, Hazardous Waste Program Manager. "Magnum must correct these practices and clean up what has been spilled."

The toluene entered the ground near a small stream and wetland area. The improper disposal practices date back as far as May 1998. The company placed approximately 10 gallons of spent solvent on the piece of plywood each month.

Ecology also found the company had not identified or properly handled other dangerous waste materials, including buckets of solvent, solvent-soaked shop towels, and containers of unidentified liquid wastes.

In a related separate action, Ecology also has ordered the company and its landlord, Perry Pallet Company, to have the site professionally evaluated for soil and groundwater contamination and cleaned up as needed, within 90 days. Perry has hired a consultant to evaluate the site and plan a cleanup. The order also requires proper disposal of hazardous wastes at the business within 30 days.

"Similar industries follow the hazardous waste laws every day," said Rice. "Magnum would have spent a fraction of what they'll pay for cleanup if they had handled their wastes correctly."

The penalty and order may be appealed within 30 days to Ecology or to the Washington State Pollution Control Hearings Board.

http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2005news/2005-282.html