Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

    • Environmental Topics
    • Air
    • Bed Bugs
    • Chemicals and Toxics
    • Climate Change
    • Emergency Response
    • Environmental Information by Location
    • Environmental Justice
    • Greener Living
    • Health
    • Land, Waste, and Cleanup
    • Lead
    • Mold
    • Pesticides
    • Radon
    • Science Topics
    • Water Topics
    • A-Z Topic Index
    • Laws & Regulations
    • By Business Sector
    • By Topic
    • Compliance
    • Enforcement
    • Guidance
    • Laws and Executive Orders
    • Regulations
    • Report a Violation
    • Environmental Violations
    • Fraud, Waste or Abuse
    • About EPA
    • Our Mission and What We Do
    • EPA Administrator
    • Headquarters Offices
    • Regional Offices
    • Labs and Research Centers
    • Planning, Budget, and Results
    • Organization Chart
    • EPA History
    • Staff Directory
News Releases:
  • Region 10
Contact Us

EPA settles with Pacific Seafood – Westport, LLC, over alleged Clean Water Act violations at Washington seafood processing facility

June 18, 2020

Contact Information
Mark MacIntyre (macintyre.mark@epa.gov)
206-553-7302

SEATTLE – Pacific Seafood – Westport, LLC, has settled with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over federal Clean Water Act violations at its Westport, Washington, crab and shrimp processing facility. Pacific Seafood – Westport, LLC, is part of a major global seafood processing operation that employs more than 3,000 people at 41 facilities in 11 states, including several offshore locations.

According to settlement documents, EPA identified over 2,100 violations of the Westport facility’s wastewater discharge permit during an unannounced inspection in 2017. EPA documented discharge limit violations, as well as violations related to monitoring frequency, incorrect sampling, and incomplete or inadequate reporting.

“Seafood processors have wastewater discharge permit limits for a reason,” said Lauris Davies, acting Director of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance in Seattle.  “Local receiving waters can get inundated with body parts, entrails, shell particles, oil and other byproducts in volumes they just can’t handle When discharges exceed permit requirements, companies must take swift action to comply with legal limits, or face penalties.”

As part of the settlement, the company agreed to pay a penalty of $190,000. In addition to paying the penalty, Pacific Seafood – Westport, LLC has launched a variety of new programs and implemented technologies to address compliance challenges at its Westport facility. By calculating the environmental impact of the violations, EPA expects to see the following environmental benefits as a direct result of the enforcement action taken:

  • Fecal Coliform reduced by 17,995 lbs/year
  • Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5) reduced by 256,564 lbs/year
  • Total Suspended Solids (TSS) reduced by 115,845 lbs/year
  • Oil & Grease (O&G) discharge reduced by 48,255 lbs/year

As part of the agreement, Pacific Seafood – Westport, LLC neither confirms nor denies the allegations contained in the signed Consent Agreement and Final Order.

#  #  #

For more about EPA’s enforcement initiative with the Seafood Processing Industry: https://www.epa.gov/eg/seafood-processing-effluent-guidelines

Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on June 18, 2020
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshot
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Plain Writing
  • Privacy
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data.gov
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Open Government
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions

Follow.