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Monday, March 18, 2024
March 18, 2024

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Alcoa fined $36,000 for polluting Columbia River

The Columbian
Published:

WENATCHEE — The state Department of Ecology has fined Alcoa’s Wenatchee Works $36,000 for discharging into the Columbia River wastewater that contained too many contaminants.

The state agency on Thursday blamed the excess river pollution on poor housekeeping practices at Wenatchee Works. These included improper storage of raw materials and waste and operator error.

The smelter operates under a Clean Water Act permit that regulates treatment of wastewater, the news release said. The permit sets limits on the amount of aluminum, fluoride and suspended solids that may be discharged daily from the plant.

The company was cited for violations that occurred in March and April. Excess solids, fluoride and aluminum can be toxic to fish and degrade their habitat, an agency news release said.

Wenatchee Works treats its wastewater, as required by Ecology, and takes precautions to prevent storm water impacts, Wenatchee Works spokesman Jens Lee said in an email Thursday.

Officials adhere to monitoring and inspection schedules set forth by Ecology, Lee said.

“Alcoa is committed to responsible operation and environmental practices,” Plant Manager Mark Huber said in the news release. “A thorough root cause investigation was conducted and quality assurance programs have been strengthened to prevent future incidents.”

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