WSDOT fined for water violation

By Associated Press

Summary

The Washington Transportation Department has been fined $39,000 by another state agency for failing to protect water quality during a road widening project last year.

Story Published: Jul 2, 2009 at 2:59 PM PST

Story Updated: Jul 2, 2009 at 2:59 PM PST

SEATTLE (AP) - The Washington Transportation Department has been fined $39,000 by another state agency for failing to protect water quality during a road widening project last year.

The Washington Department of Ecology on Thursday said transportation officials did not stabilize exposed soil when it dug and graded a new stream bed to widen a stretch of State Route 9 in south Snohomish County.

Ecology officials say muddy or silty water from bare soil harms fish and other stream life.

A transportation official says her agency immediately initiated measures to stabilize the area and is committed to avoiding harmful impacts from road projects.