EPA v. EMERALD SERVICES TACOMA

Case summary

Region 10 Settles with Emerald Services, Inc. (Tacoma, WA) for CWA Violations On August 14, 2020, Region 10 filed a consent agreement and final order resolving violations of the Clean Water Act by Emerald Services, Inc. located in Tacoma, Washington. Respondent operates a RCRA-permitted TSD facility and re-refinery at the Port of Tacoma. The facility has a total oil storage capacity of approximately 713,000 gallons. The facility was brought to EPA's attention by the Washington Department of Ecology during their investiation of spill events that were retained on-site. An EPA spill prevention, control and countermeasure (SPCC) inspection and SPCC plan review determined the SPCC plan and facility implementation of the SPCC plan lacked adequate spill prevention precautionary measures. An oil spill from this facility has the potential to enter the Commencement Bay tidal flats which flow to Puget Sound. The Puget Sound is a highly valued surface water in the Pacific Northwest. The facility is also located on the Puyallup Tribe's reservation. The company ultimately hired a consulting firm to revise and update the SPCC plan and the company agreed to pay a penalty of $93,151 for the SPCC regulatory violations.

Defendants (1)

• EMERALD SERVICESNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• EMERALD SERVICES TACOMA

  1825 ALEXANDER AVE, TACOMA, WA, 98421

  Registry ID: 110000620588

Statutes cited

• CWA 311J — SPCC and/or Federal Response Plan Violations

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• EMERALD SERVICES TACOMAentered 2020-08-14

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $93,151

Timeline (4 milestones)

• 2020-02-13Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2020-08-14Enforcement Action Closed
• 2020-08-14Final Order Issued
• 2020-08-14Complaint Filed/Proposed Order