Puget Sound Energy officials have agreed to pay the federal government $471,900 because of a November 2006 oil spill near Crystal Mountain ski area.
The proposed settlement between the utility and the federal Environmental Protection Agency was filed April 11 in U.S. District Court in Tacoma. EPA officials made a public announcement Monday.
On Nov. 3, 2006, an aboveground tank at an emergency generator near the ski area overflowed, dumping 18,000 gallons of diesel fuel.
The same accident resulted in a $366,000 state penalty for a related violation of state law. State officials announced that fine last week.
Steve Secrist, the utility’s director of environmental policy, confirmed Monday that Puget Sound Energy has agreed to pay the federal penalty.
“We are pleased with PSE’s cooperation and the steps they have taken to resolve these Clean Water Act violations,” said Mike Bussell, director of the EPA’s office of enforcement and compliance.
The Crystal Mountain spill was the largest oil spill that contaminated freshwater in Washington since June 1999, when 277,000 gallons of gasoline spilled from the Olympic pipeline in Whatcom County.
After the Crystal Mountain accident, contractors for Puget Sound Energy recovered more than 10,000 gallons of diesel. The rest of the fuel is believed to have flowed into Silver Creek, a White River tributary and home to salmon and trout.
Puget Sound Energy spent more than $16 million for cleanup and reimbursed $90,000 in state response costs.
Susan Gordon: 253-597-8756
Public comment on proposed penalty
Deadline: May 12
E-mail: pubcomment-ees.enrd @usdoj.gov
Mail: PO Box 7611, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20044-7611
Address to: Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division
Refer to: United States v. Puget Sound Energy, Inc., No. C08-5223-FDB (W.D. Wash.), D.J. Ref. No. 90-5-1-1-09177
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