Idaho Sawmill Agreed to Pay $225K In Settlement of Lawsuit

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): St. Maries, Idaho-based PotlatchDeltic Land & Lumber facility has agreed to pay $225,000 in settlement of a lawsuit filed by federal authorities alleging violations of Clean Water Act. In addition, the sawmill owners need to upgrade the facility’s stormwater system and restore fish habitat.

The lawsuit had alleged that the company violated the Act by discharging pollutants in stormwater. The investigations carried out by the U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA) had revealed release of pollutants by industrial activities at the sawmill and lumberyard. Meantime, the company agreed to pay the civil penalty, but denied any legal liability.

As per agreement, the company will overhaul the operations of outfalls. A new settling pond and filtration system will be constructed, to which some stormwater will be conveyed. The construction works of the project are expected to be completed before the end of the current year. Furthermore, it has also agreed to replace several culverts in order to restore fish passage.

The company owns over 2 million acres of forestland in Idaho and six states in the U.S. South.

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