To settle a federal air pollution case, RDI Marine has agreed to pay a $39,000 fine and replace or modify diesel engines installed on six Bristol Bay commercial fishing vessels.
More details in this press release from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Showing posts with label fine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fine. Show all posts
Friday, December 6, 2013
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
St. Paul concerns resolved, EPA files revised settlement packing $2.5 million fine for Trident
Back in September, we told you about a major enforcement action the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was taking against Alaska's biggest fish processor, Seattle-based Trident Seafoods Corp.
The EPA said Trident had agreed to pay a $2.5 million civil penalty and invest millions of dollars at its various plants to control fish wastes.
After that announcement, interests out of St. Paul, the island community at the center of the Bering Sea, raised certain concerns about the deal.
Now the government says those concerns have been resolved, and an amended settlement has been filed that still includes the $2.5 million fine for Trident and the waste control requirements.
One of those requirements calls for Trident to build a fishmeal plant at Naknek, primary hub of the huge Bristol Bay salmon fishery, by June 1, 2015.
The EPA said Trident had agreed to pay a $2.5 million civil penalty and invest millions of dollars at its various plants to control fish wastes.
After that announcement, interests out of St. Paul, the island community at the center of the Bering Sea, raised certain concerns about the deal.
Now the government says those concerns have been resolved, and an amended settlement has been filed that still includes the $2.5 million fine for Trident and the waste control requirements.
One of those requirements calls for Trident to build a fishmeal plant at Naknek, primary hub of the huge Bristol Bay salmon fishery, by June 1, 2015.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Wrangell packer to pay $96,332 pollution penalty
The fish processor cited in the press release below is a division of Pacific Seafood Group of Clackamas, Ore.
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
Oct. 22, 2010
State reaches settlement agreement with Sea Level Seafoods LLC
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation today announces it reached an agreement with Sea Level Seafoods LLC to address numerous wastewater permit violations at its Wrangell facility. The company agreed to pay $96,332 to settle violations.
Sea Level Seafoods discharged crab and seafood processing wastewater and waste into marine waters at its Wrangell facility for many years without a federal or state permit authorizing the discharge. The discharges could have been authorized under a general permit that would have included specific discharge limits, and treatment, monitoring and reporting requirements.
DEC considers the violations serious because without the sort of monitoring and reporting required by a permit, it is difficult for the state to determine if a facility is complying with laws that protect water quality.
“Alaska’s regulatory system to protect water quality largely depends on having good permits in place and monitoring compliance with the permits,” said Lynn Kent, director of the Division of Water. “Long-running compliance issues like these are a grave concern to us. Penalties help create a level playing field by ensuring that violators do not obtain an unfair economic advantage over competitors who have obtained and complied with a discharge permit.”
Sea Level Seafoods cooperated with the Alaska Department of Law and voluntarily entered into the settlement agreement.
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
Oct. 22, 2010
State reaches settlement agreement with Sea Level Seafoods LLC
The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation today announces it reached an agreement with Sea Level Seafoods LLC to address numerous wastewater permit violations at its Wrangell facility. The company agreed to pay $96,332 to settle violations.
Sea Level Seafoods discharged crab and seafood processing wastewater and waste into marine waters at its Wrangell facility for many years without a federal or state permit authorizing the discharge. The discharges could have been authorized under a general permit that would have included specific discharge limits, and treatment, monitoring and reporting requirements.
DEC considers the violations serious because without the sort of monitoring and reporting required by a permit, it is difficult for the state to determine if a facility is complying with laws that protect water quality.
“Alaska’s regulatory system to protect water quality largely depends on having good permits in place and monitoring compliance with the permits,” said Lynn Kent, director of the Division of Water. “Long-running compliance issues like these are a grave concern to us. Penalties help create a level playing field by ensuring that violators do not obtain an unfair economic advantage over competitors who have obtained and complied with a discharge permit.”
Sea Level Seafoods cooperated with the Alaska Department of Law and voluntarily entered into the settlement agreement.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Westward to pay $570,000 in air pollution case
This just in from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency:
April 19, 2010
Alaska seafood company agrees to pay more than $500,000 to resolve alleged environmental violations
WASHINGTON — Westward Seafoods Inc., the operator of a seafood processing plant in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, will pay a $570,000 civil penalty as part of a settlement agreement to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Air Act and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, the Justice Department and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today.
Under the settlement agreement filed in federal court in Alaska, Westward, a Seattle-based company, will be required to undertake four measures designed to improve the company's environmental compliance. The agreement requires the company to create a preventative maintenance and operations plan, develop and implement an annual training plan for all employees responsible for operating generating equipment, develop and submit to EPA an organizational chart that outlines staff that have environmental compliance responsibilities and develop internal procedures for submitting required reports to federal, state or local environmental agencies.
The settlement resolves a complaint that alleged that Westward had multiple violations of the Clean Air Act from 2002 until 2006. The complaint alleged violations including the burning of approximately 1.3 million gallons of diesel fuel with excessive sulfur; operating three diesel generators while air pollution control devices were inoperable, resulting in excessive emissions of nitrogen oxides; and failing to respond to repeated requests for information from state and federal inspectors.
High-sulfur fuel produces higher levels of sulfur dioxide emissions, which has adverse respiratory effects on humans, especially at-risk populations including children, the elderly and asthmatics. Operating the generators without required air control devices caused an increase in nitrogen oxide air pollution, which has adverse respiratory effects on humans and is a leading contributor to ground-level ozone.
The complaint also alleged violations of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, a law designed to help local communities protect public health, safety and the environment from chemical hazards. The complaint alleged failure to annually report 80,000 pounds of ammonia in use and storage at the Dutch Harbor plant to the State Emergency Response Commission, local fire department and Local Emergency Planning Committee.
"We expect companies that handle hazardous chemicals and operate diesel generators to comply with the law. This settlement is designed to put a system into place that will prevent future violations of the environment and public safety laws," said Ignacia S. Moreno, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division.
"We have laws regulating emissions and chemicals for a reason — these substances can have serious consequences for residents and the environment," said Edward Kowalski, director of the Office of Compliance and Enforcement in EPA's Seattle office. "We work closely with the state, and we will act when a facility is not responsive to state requests, or is putting the environment and Alaskans at risk due to unlawful practices."
The consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the federal court. A copy of the consent decree will be available on the Justice Department Web site here.
April 19, 2010
Alaska seafood company agrees to pay more than $500,000 to resolve alleged environmental violations
WASHINGTON — Westward Seafoods Inc., the operator of a seafood processing plant in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, will pay a $570,000 civil penalty as part of a settlement agreement to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Air Act and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, the Justice Department and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today.
Under the settlement agreement filed in federal court in Alaska, Westward, a Seattle-based company, will be required to undertake four measures designed to improve the company's environmental compliance. The agreement requires the company to create a preventative maintenance and operations plan, develop and implement an annual training plan for all employees responsible for operating generating equipment, develop and submit to EPA an organizational chart that outlines staff that have environmental compliance responsibilities and develop internal procedures for submitting required reports to federal, state or local environmental agencies.
The settlement resolves a complaint that alleged that Westward had multiple violations of the Clean Air Act from 2002 until 2006. The complaint alleged violations including the burning of approximately 1.3 million gallons of diesel fuel with excessive sulfur; operating three diesel generators while air pollution control devices were inoperable, resulting in excessive emissions of nitrogen oxides; and failing to respond to repeated requests for information from state and federal inspectors.
High-sulfur fuel produces higher levels of sulfur dioxide emissions, which has adverse respiratory effects on humans, especially at-risk populations including children, the elderly and asthmatics. Operating the generators without required air control devices caused an increase in nitrogen oxide air pollution, which has adverse respiratory effects on humans and is a leading contributor to ground-level ozone.
The complaint also alleged violations of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, a law designed to help local communities protect public health, safety and the environment from chemical hazards. The complaint alleged failure to annually report 80,000 pounds of ammonia in use and storage at the Dutch Harbor plant to the State Emergency Response Commission, local fire department and Local Emergency Planning Committee.
"We expect companies that handle hazardous chemicals and operate diesel generators to comply with the law. This settlement is designed to put a system into place that will prevent future violations of the environment and public safety laws," said Ignacia S. Moreno, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division.
"We have laws regulating emissions and chemicals for a reason — these substances can have serious consequences for residents and the environment," said Edward Kowalski, director of the Office of Compliance and Enforcement in EPA's Seattle office. "We work closely with the state, and we will act when a facility is not responsive to state requests, or is putting the environment and Alaskans at risk due to unlawful practices."
The consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the federal court. A copy of the consent decree will be available on the Justice Department Web site here.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
$3.4 million fine still hanging over Icicle
Icicle Seafoods Inc. could be one step closer to having to write a very big check as a penalty for some illegal king crab processing a few years ago.
But the dollar figure might not be as hefty as government authorities want.
That's the upshot of this recent 32-page determination and order signed by Jane Lubchenco, the Obama administration's newly installed head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Icicle has been fighting a $3.4 million civil penalty NOAA Fisheries imposed against the Seattle-based processor in late 2004.
Investigators charged that Icicle, through another company involved in seafood processing on faraway Adak Island in the Aleutians, exceeded its crab processing limit under the American Fisheries Act of 1998.
The central question is whether Icicle controlled Adak Fisheries Development Co. and used it to process millions of pounds of king crab over Icicle's limit. The company belonged to Kjetil Solberg, a former Icicle business partner.
Government authorities argue that Icicle did, in fact, control Adak Fisheries Development Co., and that it made substantial profits on the unlawful crab processing.
Icicle argues that, no, it didn't control Solberg's company, and it puts up a bunch of other reasons why it shouldn't have to pay any $3.4 million fine.
An administrative law judge upheld the fine in March 2007.
Icicle appealed that decision to a higher authority, which is where Lubchenco comes in.
She rules against Icicle on most points.
But she also kicks part of the case back to the judge for "clarification," and asks him to reconsider the fine amount.
In addition, she writes on page 31 of her ruling that she doesn't agree with the judge that Icicle and its Adak associates "engaged in an improper scheme to evade the law."
No telling, I guess, when this thing will be sorted out, or how big a check Icicle will have to write in the end.
But the dollar figure might not be as hefty as government authorities want.
That's the upshot of this recent 32-page determination and order signed by Jane Lubchenco, the Obama administration's newly installed head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Icicle has been fighting a $3.4 million civil penalty NOAA Fisheries imposed against the Seattle-based processor in late 2004.
Investigators charged that Icicle, through another company involved in seafood processing on faraway Adak Island in the Aleutians, exceeded its crab processing limit under the American Fisheries Act of 1998.
The central question is whether Icicle controlled Adak Fisheries Development Co. and used it to process millions of pounds of king crab over Icicle's limit. The company belonged to Kjetil Solberg, a former Icicle business partner.
Government authorities argue that Icicle did, in fact, control Adak Fisheries Development Co., and that it made substantial profits on the unlawful crab processing.
Icicle argues that, no, it didn't control Solberg's company, and it puts up a bunch of other reasons why it shouldn't have to pay any $3.4 million fine.
An administrative law judge upheld the fine in March 2007.
Icicle appealed that decision to a higher authority, which is where Lubchenco comes in.
She rules against Icicle on most points.
But she also kicks part of the case back to the judge for "clarification," and asks him to reconsider the fine amount.
In addition, she writes on page 31 of her ruling that she doesn't agree with the judge that Icicle and its Adak associates "engaged in an improper scheme to evade the law."
No telling, I guess, when this thing will be sorted out, or how big a check Icicle will have to write in the end.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Trident to pay $112,000 for ammonia violation
This just in from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Seattle:
Trident Seafoods pays over $112,000 for failing to properly report hazardous chemicals
Company agrees to spend over $51,000 in emergency response equipment for responders in Kodiak and Akutan, Alaska.
SEATTLE, Wash., April 30, 2009 – Trident Seafoods Corporation (Trident) has settled with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and agreed to pay a $61,354 penalty for violating the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) by failing to properly report the storage of ammonia at four facilities.
Specifically, Trident failed to file Emergency and Hazardous Chemical Inventory Forms with local emergency response entities in Alaska and Washington.
In addition to paying the penalty, Trident agreed to perform a Supplemental Environmental Project, providing over $23,000 in emergency response equipment to first responders in Kodiak, Alaska and over $28,000 in response equipment to responders in Akutan, Alaska.
"People’s safety and preventing chemical accidents are a top priority for EPA,” said Edward Kowalski, Director of EPA’s Office of Compliance & Enforcement in Seattle. "We’re committed to reducing the likelihood and severity of accidental chemical releases by enforcing the law, protecting people and the environment and creating a level playing field for industry.”
Today’s settlement addresses violations related to Trident facilities in the Alaskan towns of Kodiak, Akutan and Petersburg, as well as a Trident facility in Seattle, Washington, all which store ammonia in amounts above the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act reportable quantities. The four Trident facilities process seafood.
Trident Seafoods pays over $112,000 for failing to properly report hazardous chemicals
Company agrees to spend over $51,000 in emergency response equipment for responders in Kodiak and Akutan, Alaska.
SEATTLE, Wash., April 30, 2009 – Trident Seafoods Corporation (Trident) has settled with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and agreed to pay a $61,354 penalty for violating the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) by failing to properly report the storage of ammonia at four facilities.
Specifically, Trident failed to file Emergency and Hazardous Chemical Inventory Forms with local emergency response entities in Alaska and Washington.
In addition to paying the penalty, Trident agreed to perform a Supplemental Environmental Project, providing over $23,000 in emergency response equipment to first responders in Kodiak, Alaska and over $28,000 in response equipment to responders in Akutan, Alaska.
"People’s safety and preventing chemical accidents are a top priority for EPA,” said Edward Kowalski, Director of EPA’s Office of Compliance & Enforcement in Seattle. "We’re committed to reducing the likelihood and severity of accidental chemical releases by enforcing the law, protecting people and the environment and creating a level playing field for industry.”
Today’s settlement addresses violations related to Trident facilities in the Alaskan towns of Kodiak, Akutan and Petersburg, as well as a Trident facility in Seattle, Washington, all which store ammonia in amounts above the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act reportable quantities. The four Trident facilities process seafood.
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