TransCanada, Chewelah company fined for air quality violation

Wed., Nov. 11, 2015

Two companies with operations in the Inland Northwest have been fined by the Washington Department of Ecology for air quality violations.

TransCanada was fined $4,000 for emissions of haze forming nitrogen oxide from its natural gas pipeline operations in Wallula, Washington, and for failing to submit the test results in the timeframe required by its permit, officials said. The air quality violations occurred between October, 2013, and April of this year.

White Stone Calcium Inc. in Chewelah, Washington, was fined $5,000 for exceeding pollution limits for dust from its operations. The company operates quarries and stone crushers.

The Department of Ecology issues fines when companies remain out of compliance after the agency has provided technical assistance or warnings, or for serious violations, officials said. Companies have the opportunity to contest the fines through the state Pollution Control Hearings Board.

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