Washington Ag Today September 29, 2010 A Grandview, Washington farming partnership has been issued penalties by the departments of Ecology and Agriculture totaling over 200-thousand dollars for what the state says was the illegal burying of pesticides and hazardous waste as recently as 2008.
Brian Dick of Ecology summed up what was found at Double H Farms after the agency received a tip from a citizen in early 2009.
Dick: “The agencies found and removed nearly 200 containers of pesticides, waste oil and car batteries. Many of the containers, ranging from 2.5 gallons to 55 gallons, were crushed and/or punctured.”
Dick said some of the containers, as well as lead acid car batteries were found submerged in the shallow water table six to eight feet below ground. Pesticide containers still had product in them at the strength listed on the label.
Dick: “The bottom line is that all of the toxic wastes buried in the groundwater filled pit could have all been safely disposed of for free and all within 15 minutes of this farm. So instead of free disposal they chose to put people and the environment at risk.”
State officials called the violations the most egregious they had seen but Dicks and others emphasized this was unusual.
Dick: “Not at all representative of the agriculture industry here in Washington.”
Ecology has ordered Double H Farms to investigate other sites it owns where more waste is suspected to be buried.
The attorney for the farm and farm operator says his clients broke no laws and will appeal the penalties.
I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on Northwest Aginfo Net.
Brian Dick of Ecology summed up what was found at Double H Farms after the agency received a tip from a citizen in early 2009.
Dick: “The agencies found and removed nearly 200 containers of pesticides, waste oil and car batteries. Many of the containers, ranging from 2.5 gallons to 55 gallons, were crushed and/or punctured.”
Dick said some of the containers, as well as lead acid car batteries were found submerged in the shallow water table six to eight feet below ground. Pesticide containers still had product in them at the strength listed on the label.
Dick: “The bottom line is that all of the toxic wastes buried in the groundwater filled pit could have all been safely disposed of for free and all within 15 minutes of this farm. So instead of free disposal they chose to put people and the environment at risk.”
State officials called the violations the most egregious they had seen but Dicks and others emphasized this was unusual.
Dick: “Not at all representative of the agriculture industry here in Washington.”
Ecology has ordered Double H Farms to investigate other sites it owns where more waste is suspected to be buried.
The attorney for the farm and farm operator says his clients broke no laws and will appeal the penalties.
I’m Bob Hoff and that’s Washington Ag Today on Northwest Aginfo Net.
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