Department of Ecology fines Mukilteo, Everett companies

EVERETT — Two Snohomish County businesses and the state Department of Transportation were fined by the state during the third quarter of 2013 for violations of environmental laws.

Production Plating Inc. of Mukilteo and Cemex of Everett were fined $11,000 and $6,000, respectively, by the state Department of Ecology.

The fines were among more than $283,000 in penalties issued statewide for the quarter, the department announced recently.

The transportation department was ordered to pay $10,000 for violations in water-quality monitoring and reporting on the state’s project to widen Highway 522 from the Snohomish River to Monroe.

The fine was reduced from the original $60,000 because the transportation department voluntarily reported errors to the ecology department and supplied missing and corrected data.

The department also agreed to take steps to avoid the errors in the future and promptly report and thoroughly document any violations, according to the ecology department.

Additionally, the transportation department will fund a $20,000 fish habitat restoration project by the Adopt A Stream Foundation of Everett on Dubuque Creek at its confluence with the Pilchuck River.

Production Plating, which does plating and powder coating of metals used in aerospace and other industries, was fined for unsafely storing hazardous materials and repeatedly failing to submit information about its industrial wastewater. This put the company in violation of its water quality discharge permit, according to the ecology department.

The permit, issued by the ecology department, sets conditions under which the firm may discharge waste water into the Mukilteo Water and Wastewater District sewer system. The plant is located at 4412 Russell Road in Harbour Pointe.

In February 2012 ecology department inspectors found containers of strong acids in the same storage areas as strong bases and cyanide salts. The company is required to store these materials in separate compartments to ensure that spills or leaks do not reach water or interact in a way that could produce toxic fumes, according to the ecology department.

The company has neither paid nor appealed the $11,000 fine issued in August and the matter will be referred to a collection agency, according to Larry Altose, a spokesman for the ecology department.

He said the company is now complying with reporting rules and has improved its storage practices. The department will do follow-up inspections, Altose said.

“We did have to issue one warning letter on Dec. 18 for discharging zinc 20 percent above allowable permit limits in the third quarter of this year,” he said. “They have been in compliance with other pollutant limits. The good news is they are reporting their monitoring results.”

Cemex, according to the ecology department, dumped inadequately treated wastewater from its Everett cement mixing plant and trucks into Pigeon Creek on May 31.

The company has two locations in Everett — at 6300 Glenwood Ave., near Merrill Creek Parkway, and on the northern waterfront. The violation occurred at the Glenwood Avenue site.

The Mexico-based global company makes cement, asphalt and other building materials.

The company has paid its fine, Altose said. Cemex also has begun daily inspection and more frequent cleaning of its water-treatment system and holding pond, he said.

Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439; bsheets@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.