SPOKANE, Wash. — According to a press release, the Washington Department of Ecology (WDE) penalized Spokane Galvanizing Inc. for violating state dangerous waste laws by contaminating soils with corrosive waste spills.
The company uses corrosive chemicals and acids when they are making galvanized steel. They also dip the metal into a bath of hot zinc to coat the metal. This process of metal-making produces dangerous waste.
Dangerous waste is ignitable, corrosive, reactive and toxic. The waste must be properly contained, stored, and disposed of.
According to WDE, during an inspection in June 2023, they noticed that Spokane Galvanizing Inc. has not been producing, handling, or storing their dangerous waste properly. The company was allowing corrosive dangerous waste to spill outside their facility, which contaminated soils, as well as potentially impacted groundwater.
"For the safety of our communities and the environment, it is essential for businesses to follow Washington’s dangerous waste regulations,” said Elaine Snouwaert, Ecology’s Eastern Region Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction section manager. “Better oversight and training could have prevented these spills of corrosive waste at Spokane Galvanizing.”
“Spokane Galvanizing took immediate action to address the issues identified during the inspection. Furthermore, company policies and procedures were updated, and additional training was provided to personnel,” Spokane Galvanizing said in a statement.
Spokane Galvanizing has 30 days to pay the $32,000 penalty or appeal to the Pollution Control Hearings Board.
