Seattle Metal Recycler Fined $98K for Discharging Pollutants to Duwamish River

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): A Seattle metal recycling company has been fined for discharge of pollutants into the Duwamish River. Seattle Iron and Metals Corp. was fined $98,000 by the Washington Department of Ecology for repeated violations in 2017 and 2018 at its 601 South Myrtle Street, Seattle, WA 98108 site. The notice of penalty was issued to the company for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit violations.

According to Ecology, the metal recycling facility exceeded permit effluent limits 43 times during the period from February 2017 through December 2018. The discharge comprised of excessive levels of zinc, copper, lead and other pollutants into the water. It had cited several permit violations during the unannounced inspection of the site carried out on November 28, 2017.

Heather Bartlett, who manages Ecology’s Water Quality Program stated that the company’s pattern of repeated violations is unacceptable. It must be noted that the company was fined $16,000 and $64,000 for similar violations in 2014 and 2017 respectively. He urged the company to improve the performance of their treatment system so as to comply with the permit requirements.

The company responded to the Notice, saying that it takes environmental compliance seriously and that all necessary measures will be taken to rectify the situation.

The company has 30 days after receiving the Notice of Penalty to either pay the penalty or appeal to the PCHB and serve Ecology. Also, continued failure to correct the cited violations is likely to result in additional, escalated penalties.