NEWS RELEASE
August 8, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Dan A. Nelson, ORCAA Public Information Officer, Ext. 111
Agency Takes Action on Hoquiam Fish Meal Odors
The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency has acquired a temporary restraining order from the Superior Court of Washington for Grays Harbor County to enforce a regulatory order against Ocean Protein, LLC.
The restraining order was agreed to by Ocean Protein and was signed by the judge Monday, Aug. 8, 2005. ORCAA has received more than 400 odor complaints about the company's Hoquiam fish meal processing plant since it began operations in May.
ORCAA Executive Director Richard A. Stedman said, "We see this agreement as a positive step in gaining compliance from the facility. In addition to having the court enforce the conditions of ORCAA's regulatory order, by signing the agreement Ocean Protein will be taking additional steps to find appropriate solutions to the facility's odor problems."
The order allows Ocean Protein to continue operation of its Hoquiam facility provided it does so in a manner that complies with air quality regulations. The company must immediately hire an independent environmental consultant (already done) to evaluate the problems and issue a report recommending a permanent solution to the plant's odor problems. The consultant's report must be submitted to ORCAA no later than September 15, 2005. Among the issues required of the consultant are:
As the administrator of state and federal clean air laws within the six counties of its jurisdiction, ORCAA takes seriously all issues of public concern relating to air quality.
Given the volume of complaints filed against Ocean Protein, ORCAA took the unusual step of seeking the court's assistance. Should Ocean Protein fail to live up to the requirements of the restraining order, the court may shut down operations in the facility.
Anyone who wishes to receive more information regarding this issue, or to file a complaint, may contact ORCAA at 1-800-422-5623. Additionally, Ocean Protein has established its own complaint line at (360) 310-0850.
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The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency protects and enhances air quality for citizens in Thurston, Mason, Clallam, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, and Pacific counties by enforcing federal, state and local air quality regulations. If you have questions specific to the topic above, or just general questions about local air quality, contact ORCAA at (360) 586-1044 or 1-800-422-5623, or visit ORCAA's website, www.orcaa.org.