Nov. 4

The U.S. EPA has filed a complaint against Chilkoot Fish and Caviar Inc. for violations of the federal Clean Water Act.

The company´s fish processing plant in Haines, Alaska, repeatedly violated its permit over a four year period, according to the EPA. The company could face a penalty of $177,550, the maximum civil penalty allowed under the Clean Water Act.

Chilkoot improperly discharged fish processing waste into Lutak Inlet without a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit, according to the EPA. The administrative complaint accuses the company of illegal discharge activities from May to October in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Fish wastes are the unused portions of the processed fish. The permit requires processors to grind the waste to 1/2 inch size or less. From 2004 through 2007, Chilkoot processed over 824,000 pounds of fish waste, according to the EPA.

Fish processing waste can cause serious harm to the marine environment in the surrounding area, according to the EPA.

Contact Waste & Recycling News senior reporter Bruce Geiselman at 330-865-6172 or bgeiselman@crain.com

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