Kaiser fined $388,000 by Department of Ecology

Q-6 NEWS

SPOKANE, September 21 - Just days after settling its labor dispute with the United Steelworkers, Kaiser Aluminum is now facing other problems: fines from the Department of Ecology.

Kaiser Aluminum’s Mead plant has been fined $388,000 dollars for poorly operating and maintaining it’s air-pollution control equipment. Inspectors from the Department of Ecology say the problem has lasted from August of 1995 through October of 1999, and Kaiser had the opportunity to fix the problem. As a result, 800 pounds of pollutants were put into the air during that time period.

According to the Department of Ecology, the plant has been emitting excess fluoride and other particulate where the aluminum smelting process takes place. The cause of the air pollution seems to be a leak in the pot room roof.

The new penalty is the 13th issued to the facility since june of 1998. Kaiser does have a chance to appeal.