SEATTLE (CN) - Environmentalists claim one of the country's largest timber companies has dumped pollutants from its Washington-based sawmill into local waters for years, in violation of federal law and a state permit.
     Waste Action Project says Sierra Pacific Industries discharges waste into the Chehalis River, which is already on the state's watch list of impaired water bodies. The river flows into Grays Harbor near Washington's northern coastline.
     Although the Washington Department of Ecology issued a storm water discharge permit for the Junction City, Wash. sawmill, Sierra Pacific has violated several conditions under the license since 2005, the nonprofit's federal complaint, filed in Tacoma, Wash., claims.
     "Sierra discharges storm water that contains elevated levels of zinc, turbidity, chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, and other pollutants," Waste Action states.
     The timber company, which owns almost 1.9 million acres of land in Washington and California, also failed to conduct monthly storm water testing and inspections by qualified personnel, according to the complaint.
     Waste Action Project wants the timber company to set up a pollution prevention plan and allow the nonprofit to help implement the plan. It also wants Sierra Pacific to clean up the dirty water and cough up $37,500 per day in civil penalties for each violation of the Clean Water Act and the state's requirements.
     The nonprofit is represented by Knoll Lowney of Smith & Lowney PLLC in Seattle.