EPA v. MANKE LUMBER COMPANY INC

Case summary

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and United States Department of Justice (DOJ) entered a Consent Decree on January 22, 2020, resolving years of violations under the Clean Water Act (CWA) at the Manke Lumber Company facility (Manke) located along the Hylebos Waterway, in Tacoma, Washington. Under the Consent Decree Manke Lumber Company agreed to a civil penalty of $320,000 as well as a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) that consists of a land transfer of 38 acres of undeveloped land from Manke to the City of Shelton, Washington that will be permanently set aside for conservation. The SEP will protect a riparian zone along Goldsborough Creek providing many benefits to the threatened Coho population that utilizes the creek for spawning habitat. Additionally the Consent Decree contains significant injunctive relief to address the CWA violations at the facility which include: building a new stormwater treatment system, training employees, implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS), performing third-party audits of environmental compliance, increased sampling, increased reporting, and hiring an Environmental Manager to oversee the facility.

Defendants (1)

• Manke Lumber CompanyNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (2)

• MANKE LUMBER CO

  1717 MARINE VIEW DR, TACOMA, WA, 98422-4104

  Registry ID: 110000897174

• MANKE LUMBER CO INC TACOMA SAW MILL

  1717 MARINE VIEW DR, TACOMA, WA, 98422-4104

  Registry ID: 110000897174

Statutes cited

• CWA 311J — SPCC and/or Federal Response Plan Violations
• CWA 301/402 — NPDES Permit Violations
• CWA 301 — NPDES Discharge without a Permit

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• MANKE LUMBER COMPANY INCentered 2020-01-22

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $325,483 · SEP: $435,000

Timeline (7 milestones)

• 2016-04-12Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2016-05-02Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2017-04-06Complaint Filed With Court
• 2019-05-17Final Order Lodged
• 2020-01-22Final Order Entered
• 2025-05-06NPDES Closed
• 2025-05-06Enforcement Action Closed