EPA v. DARIGOLD, INC - ACO (CWA NPDES)

Case summary

On September 12, 2024, Region 10 issued an administrative order on consent to Darigold, Inc. for its violations at Darigold, Inc. facilities in Caldwell ID, as well as Chehalis, Issaquah, Lynden, Seattle and Spokane, WA. For its widespread corporate noncompliance, which may have lead to the destruction of one facility due to fire, chronic unauthorized discharges, and multiple large-scale spill events to WOTUS resulted in six consent agreement and final orders (CAFOs). Violations included, but were not limited to, failure to meet effluent limits, failure to have an adequate Quality Assurance Plan (QAPP), unauthorized discharges, inadequate control measures, failure to conduct routine inspections, inadequate corrective actions, inadequate best management practices, inadequate Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs), failure to monitor all outfalls, and failure to take representative samples. Darigold agreed to pay a total, combined penalty of $1,158,425. Under the terms of the AOC, Darigold must hire a third-party contractor to perform Clean Water Act compliance verifications at all six facilities and the company must prepare and implement action plans to correct any non-compliance identified. The estimated cost of implementing this injunctive relief is $900,000. The Caldwell, Idaho facility and the Chehalis, Seattle and Spokane facilities in Washington impacts areas with environmental justice concerns.

Defendants (1)

• DARIGOLD, INCNamed in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (12)

• DARIGOLD, INC. - CALDWELL FACILITY

  520 ALBANY STREET, CALDWELL, ID, 83605

  Registry ID: 110000468556

• DARIGOLD INC - CALDWELL FACILITY

  520 ALBANY STREET, CALDWELL, ID, 83605

  Registry ID: 110000468556

• DARIGOLD ISSAQUAH PLANT

  611 FRONT ST N, ISSAQUAH, WA, 98027-2913

  Registry ID: 110000489034

• DARIGOLD, INC. - CALDWELL FACILITY

  520 ALBANY STREET, CALDWELL, ID, 83605

  Registry ID: 110000468556

• DARIGOLD LYNDEN

  8424 DEPOT RD, LYNDEN, WA, 98264

  Registry ID: 110000490175

• DARIGOLD LYNDEN

  8424 DEPOT RD, LYNDEN, WA, 98264

  Registry ID: 110000490175

• DARIGOLD LYNDEN

  8424 DEPOT RD, LYNDEN, WA, 98264

  Registry ID: 110000490175

• DARIGOLD

  33 E FRANCIS AVE, SPOKANE, WA, 99207

  Registry ID: 110056382472

• DARIGOLD INC CHEHALIS

  67 SW CHEHALIS AVE, CHEHALIS, WA, 98532-1932

  Registry ID: 110000490674

• DARIGOLD LYNDEN

  8424 DEPOT RD, LYNDEN, WA, 98264

  Registry ID: 110000490175

• DARIGOLD INC - CALDWELL FACILITY

  520 ALBANY STREET, CALDWELL, ID, 83605

  Registry ID: 110000468556

• DARIGOLD RAINIER AVE PLANT

  4058 RAINIER AVE S, SEATTLE, WA, 98118-1142

  Registry ID: 110000489622

Statutes cited

• CWA 301/402 — NPDES Permit Violations
• CWA 301 — NPDES Discharge without a Permit

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• DARIGOLD, INC - ACO (CWA NPDES)entered 2024-09-12

  Primary law: CWA

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 2024-09-06Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2024-09-12Final Order Issued
• 2024-09-12Complaint Filed/Proposed Order