Thom Fischer, CEO of Electron Hydro, LLC, will have to pay over a $1 million civil penalty after the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that the company violated the Clean Water Act. The settlement arises from an incident in 2020 involving inappropriate installation of artificial turf at a construction site.
Details surrounding the incident paint a disturbing picture. According to a news release, the incident involved the installation of artificial turf at a construction project in 2020 at the Electron dam, which released turf and the crumb rubber it contained into the Puyallup River. The surface material has been as close as 5,000 feet from the dam and the crumb rubber has even discovered 19 miles downstream. Removing the material from the river is not possible.
In shedding light on this matter, Ed Kowalski shares his thoughts. "Sadly, Electron Hydro’s and Mr. Fischer’s unfathomable violations will have lasting environmental impact on the Puyallup River and the fish and wildlife that rely on it," said Ed Kowalski, director of enforcement and compliance assurance division in EPA's Region 10 office in Seattle. "Payment of this major penalty cannot undo damage. However, additional work required by this settlement represents significant step toward restoring our precious water resources and should serve as strong reminder that EPA will exact significant sanctions, monetary and otherwise from those who ignore their legal responsibilities to protect our water resources."
More worryingly is what these materials could introduce into local ecosystems. According to media release problem with artificial turf is that it contains plasticizers zinc lead and other toxic compounds chemical used in tire manufacturing 6PPD is found in crumb rubber when chemical mixes with ozone it develops toxin that is deadly to the many fish found in Puyallup River.
The river is home to several species of fish, some protected under law. Moreover, Chinook salmon, bull trout and steelhead trout are found in river and are protected under Endangered Species Act according to news release. The river also home to coho, chum and pink salmon along with cutthroat trout.
Interestingly, this violation has also infringed on indigenous fishing rights. The banks of the Puyallup River are territory of the Puyallup Tribe who have long fished its waters under fishing rights protected by treaty according EPA.
