Highland Light Pays $135,000 EPA Penalty

Highland Light Seafoods, a Seattle Seafood Processor headquartered in Seattle, has agreed to pay a $135,00 penalty for violations of the Clean Water Act. The violations stem from an inspection of the 160 foot WESTWARD WIND in December of 2008 and involve multiple alleged violations over a five year period. The EPA charged that the WESTWARD WIND was not in compliance with its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit (NPDES). Allegations included improper discharges of waste product, failure to maintain records, excessive discharges of waste. A Spokesman for the EPA stated that “monitoring is the cornerstone of the NPDES Program and provides real time input for the company on the effectiveness of its operation. Using monitoring to improve operations is an important step in reducing the effects of discharge on the environment.