Salamatof Seafoods Inc., an Alaskan seafood processor plant located in Kenai, was imposed fine of $38,000 penalty to settle alleged federal Clean Water Act violations. EPA and the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation has inspected the Salamatof plant in 2002, 2005 and 2006 and cited for violations of the company’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.
It was told that the plant discharges seafood processing wastewater into the Kenai River which flows into Cook Inlet. The allegation included the unauthorized discharges of seafood processing waste into the Kenai River; the failure to monitor; the failure to develop and operate in accordance with an appropriate best management practices plan; and the failure to submit annual reports.
Kim Ogle, Manager of EPA’s NPDES Compliance Unit in Seattle, informed that it is extremely important for seafood processors like Salamatof to continuously monitor their facility operations. He added that in impaired waters like the Kenai River, it is especially critical that Salamatof and other processors comply with the NPDES permit. Ogle also told that discharges from seafood processors can have a large impact in Alaskan waters and these permits help to protect these resources.
