Farm penalized for burying waste

YAKIMA – Two state agencies have issued penalties totaling $200,200 to a central Washington farming partnership for violating laws regarding dangerous waste and pesticides. The Washington Department of Ecology said Monday it is imposing a civil penalty of $165,000 on Double H Farms of Grandview for illegally burying pesticides, used oil, car batteries and other hazardous waste. The state Agriculture Department is fining the company an additional $35,200 for violating pesticide laws. In March 2009, state investigators responded to a tip that used oil and pesticides had been buried at the farm. Nearly 200 containers of waste items were excavated by contractors for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A lawyer for Double H says the state has offered no evidence and the farm expects the penalties to be dismissed.