Region 10 Settles with Emerald Services, Inc. (Tacoma, WA) for CWA Violations
On August 14, 2020, Region 10 filed a consent agreement and final order resolving violations of the
Clean Water Act by Emerald Services, Inc. located in Tacoma, Washington. Respondent operates a
RCRA-permitted TSD facility and re-refinery at the Port of Tacoma. The facility has a total oil storage
capacity of approximately 713,000 gallons. The facility was brought to EPA's attention by the
Washington Department of Ecology during their investiation of spill events that were retained on-site.
An EPA spill prevention, control and countermeasure (SPCC) inspection and SPCC plan review
determined the SPCC plan and facility implementation of the SPCC plan lacked adequate spill
prevention precautionary measures. An oil spill from this facility has the potential to enter the
Commencement Bay tidal flats which flow to Puget Sound. The Puget Sound is a highly valued surface
water in the Pacific Northwest. The facility is also located on the Puyallup Tribe's reservation. The
company ultimately hired a consulting firm to revise and update the SPCC plan and the company agreed
to pay a penalty of $93,151 for the SPCC regulatory violations.