Public Notice: Proposed Settlement with the Washington State Department of Corrections for Clean Water Act Violations
Summary
EPA is providing notice of a proposed administrative penalty settlement with the Washington State Department of Corrections for violations of the Clean Water Act at its McNeil Island Corrections Center located on McNeil Island in Washington.
EPA alleges that the respondent failed to comply with the Spill, Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure regulations. Alleged violations were observed during an inspection on October 25, 2022, including failure to maintain an adequate SPCC plan and inspection records, failure to conduct personnel training, failure to ensure adequate secondary containment, and failure to conduct integrity testing.
Other alleged violations concerning their Facility Response Plan include failure to have an oil spill response organization, failure to implement and maintain logs of inspections and drill exercises, and failure to update the Facility Response Plan.
This action is being simultaneously commenced and concluded in a legal document called a Consent Agreement and Final Order. Under the proposed agreement (see "related documents" below), the Washington State Department of Corrections will pay a civil penalty of $140,000.
Respondent
Washington State Department of Corrections
P.O. Box 88900
Steilacoom, Washington 98388-0900
Legal authority
This is a Class II administrative penalty proceeding governed by Section 311(b)(6) of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1321(b)(6)), and the procedural rules found at 40 CFR Part 22. The requirements that apply to public comment and participation are set forth in Clean Water Act Section 311(b)(6)(C) and 40 CFR § 22.45.