EPA proposes additional fines for company non-compliance

Based on documented violations of a previous settlement, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a warning to the Earle M. Jorgensen Company (EMJ), which is currently undertaking its portion of the Duwamish Waterway Cleanup plan in Washington.

According to an EPA release, the agency is proposing fines of more than $367,000 for the company’s violations, which unnecessarily created human health and environmental risks. When developing work plans for cleanup sites, the agency inserts Best Management Practices (BMPs) to ensure that the complicated work is done correctly, and that contaminated materials are contained.

According to EPA and Army Corps of Engineering observations, EMJ did not meet necessary and pre-arranged requirements in its transportation of creosote pilings and PCB-laden sediments from the Jorgensen Forge site. These issues persisted despite warnings from the EPA project manager.

“We understand that occasionally mistakes are made,” EPA Regional Superfund Associate Director Sheila Fleming said. “But when warnings are ignored week after week, month after month, it seems that the company and its contractors just didn’t care about the law.”