Two years ago, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) inspection found that the company was discharging wastewater in violation of local and federal standards.
In a statement, the EPA writes that USA seafood processing facility Pacific Seafood-Eureka (California) part of the Pacific Seafood Group headquartered in Portland (Oregon), has agreed to pay a USD 74,500 penalty settlement.
The company, which is one of the US’ largest seafood companies, processes a wide assortment of species including its own wild and farmed salmon range.
The EPA wrote that during a 2018 inspection with the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board and Eureka’s Public Works Department, it found the company discharged wastewater directly to the Eureka Slough waterway without the appropriate permit. EPA conducted its inspection after the City of Eureka issued several notices of violations to the facility. The facility also discharged wastewater to the city of Eureka’s sanitary sewer in violation of pretreatment standards.
“Humboldt Bay is an important waterway enjoyed by many Californians,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator John Busterud. “Unpermitted and untreated discharges of pollutants to the bay can harm aquatic life and water quality. Industrial facilities must also treat their wastewater before it enters local sewer systems to avoid harm to the collection system and potentially impacting discharges from the treatment plant.”
The site was in question was processing shellfish (oysters and crabs). The company has since addressed all of these compliance issues, the EPA wrote.
In May, SalmonBusiness reported that Pacific Seafood President and CEO Frank Dulcich said that he expected 40 per-cent of all US restaurants to close for good.
