1 HON. RICARDO S. MARTINEZ
6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON 7 AT SEATTLE
8 WASTE ACTION PROJECT, ) ) 9 Plaintiff, ) Case No. 2:17-cv-00498-RSM v. ) 10 ) FRUHLING SAND & TOPSOIL, INC., ) CONSENT DECREE 11 ) Defendant. ) 12 ) ___________________________________ ) 13 14 I. STI PULATIONS 15 WHEREAS, Plaintiff Waste Action Project filed a second amended complaint against 16 Defendant Fruhling Sand & Topsoil, Inc. (“Fruhling”) alleging violations of the Clean Water Act 17 (“CWA”), 33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq., at Fruhling’s facility located at 1010 228th Street SW, 18 Bothell, WA 98021 (the “Property”), and seeking declaratory and injunctive relief, civil 19 penalties, and attorneys’ fees and costs. Dkt. 40. Fruhling's activities and operations on the 20 Property, along with the Property, are referred to as the "Facility." 21 WHEREAS, the parties executed and filed a “Stipulation of Facts and Issues” stipulating 22 to, among other things, Fruhling’s discharges of arsenic-contaminated water to Crystal Creek via 23 point source without NPDES permit authorization in violation of the Clean Water Act (referred 24 to herein as the “unpermitted pollutant discharge”). Dkt. 55. 25 26 CONSENT DECREE Smith & Lowney, p.l.l.c. 1 WHEREAS, Fruhling and the Washington State Department of Ecology ("Ecology") 2 have entered into an Agreed Order Docket No. 16479 (the "Agreed Order"), attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by this reference, effective October 18, 2019, 4 WHEREAS, the Property is for sale and Fruhling is in negotiations with a prospective 5 buyer for the Property. 6 WHEREAS, Waste Action Project and F tuhling agree that settlement of these matters is 7 in the best interest of the parties and the public, and that entry of this Consent Decree is the most 8 appropriate means of resolving this action, 9 WHEREAS, Waste Action Project and Fruhling stipulate to the entry of this Consent 10 Decree without trial or adjudication of any issues of fact or law regarding Waste Action Project’s 11 claims that remain undecided or unstipulated, and without any admissions other than those expressly provided in this Consent Decree. 13 DATED this 24 th day of December, 2019 Mt MILLER NASH GRAHAM & DUNN LLP SMITH & LOWNEY PLLC 15 16 By s/Douglas Morrison By s/Marc Zemel Douglas Morrison, WSBA #18769 Mare Zemel, WSBA #44325 17. Attorneys for Defendant Attorneys for Plaintiff Fruhling Sand & Topsoil, Inc. Waste Action Project 18 19 29 FRUHLIN@SAND & TopSol, ig. WASTE ACTION PROJECT 21 i □□ | By X □□□ LEFF A, By ha DatrFruhling/ Greg Wingatd President ee Executive Director 23 . 24 25 26 CONSENT DECREE Smith & Lowney, p.l.lc. No, 2:17-cv-00498-RSM 2317 East John St. 2 Seattle, Washington 98112 (206) 860-2883
1 I. ORDER AND DECREE 2 THIS MATTER came before the Court upon the foregoing stipulations of the parties. 3 Having considered the stipulations and the promises set forth below, the Court hereby ORDERS, 4 ADJUDGES, and DECREES as follows: 5 1. This Court has jurisdiction over the parties and subject matter of this action. 6 2. Each signatory for the parties certifies for that party that he or she is fully
7 authorized by the party or parties he or she represents to enter into the terms and conditions of 8 this Consent Decree and to legally bind the party or parties, their successors in interest and 9 assigns of the parties to it. 10 3. This Consent Decree applies to and binds the parties and their successors in 11 interest and assigns. 12 4. This Consent Decree and any injunctive relief ordered within will apply to the 13 operation and oversight by Fruhling of the Facility, which is currently subject to National 14 Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit No. WAG503168 (the “NPDES permit”), but 15 which lacks an NPDES permit authorizing the unpermitted pollutant discharge. 16 5. This Consent Decree is a full and complete settlement and release of all the claims 17 alleged in the second amended complaint and all other claims known or unknown and existing as 18 of the date of the entry of this Consent Decree that could be asserted against Fruhling, its 19 officers, management, employees, agents, successors and assigns under the Clean Water Act, 33 20 U.S.C. §§ 1251-1387, arising from the operation of or discharges from the Facility. Upon 21 termination of this Consent Decree, these claims will be released and dismissed with prejudice. 22 6. This Consent Decree is a settlement of certain disputed facts and law. This 23 Consent Decree is not an admission or adjudication regarding any specific allegations by Waste 24 Action Project in this case or of any conclusion of fact or law related to those allegations that 25 remain undecided or unstipulated, nor evidence of any wrongdoing or misconduct on the part of 26 Fruhling. CONSENT DECREE Smith & Lowney, p.l.l.c. 1 7. The parties agree that the obligations undertaken under Paragraphs 8, 9 and 10 are 2 in full and complete satisfaction of all the claims covered by this decree. 3 8. Injunctive Relief: 4 a. Fruhling will comply fully with the terms and provisions of the NPDES 5 Permit at the Facility and any successor, modified, or replacement permit and any 6 additional NPDES permit issued for the Facility in the future.
7 b. Fruhling will comply with the Agreed Order attached as Exhibit A, 8 including the Corrective Actions in Section IV of the Agreed Order. In addition: 9 1. Fruhling must, simultaneous with delivery of any and all 10 documents submitted to Ecology under the Agreed Order, send a copy to Waste 11 Action Project. 12 2. Upon receipt of documents submitted under paragraph 8.b.1 of this 13 Consent Decree, Waste Action Project will have 30 days to provide Fruhling and 14 Ecology with comments. Within 14 days of receiving Waste Action Project’s 15 comments, Fruhling will respond to each comment in writing. If Waste Action 16 Project’s comments propose changes to any of Fruhling’s submissions to 17 Ecology, Fruhling’s response must adopt Waste Action Project’s proposed 18 changes and promptly resubmit to Ecology, or provide detailed justification why 19 it believes the proposed changes are unnecessary or unreasonable. 20 3. Fruhling will make all reasonable efforts to expeditiously obtain 21 Ecology approval for its plan to address its unpermitted pollutant discharge in 22 accordance with paragraphs IV 1) through 4) of the Agreed Order, as well as any 23 other necessary regulatory approvals or other agreements with third parties. Upon 24 Ecology’s approval of Fruhling’s proposed plan, Fruhling will implement the plan 25 as soon as practicable. 26 CONSENT DECREE Smith & Lowney, p.l.l.c. 1 c. With respect to any contamination caused by the unpermitted pollutant 2 discharge that is not addressed by the Agreed Order and that is located outside the 3 boundaries of the Facility, Fruhling will comply with the requirements of the Model 4 Toxics Control Act (MTCA), Chapter 70.105D RCW and Ecology's implementing 5 regulations, Chapter 173-340 WAC. Fruhling will promptly provide Waste Action 6 Project with copies of all sampling data obtained during this process, and notify Waste
7 Action Project within 7 days after it completes implementation of a cleanup action plan. 8 d. Once per calendar quarter Fruhling will provide Waste Action Project with 9 progress updates describing the status of implementation of all activities performed under 10 this Paragraph 8 until complete. These progress updates will be due to Waste Action 11 Project on the following dates for the prior calendar quarter: February 15th, May 15th, 12 August 15th and November 15th. 13 e. Within thirty (30) days of entry of this Consent Decree, with a qualified 14 consultant, Fruhling will review and revise its Site Management Plan (SMP) to meet the 15 requirements of the Sand and Gravel General Permit as follows: (i) include on the 16 Facility site map the presence of any scrap metal pile, the location of the unpermitted 17 pollutant discharge, the drainage from near the entrance that flows to a Pond, and the 18 location of methane system components that generate condensate; (ii) include a directive 19 to identify any location that is designed to or used purposely to infiltrate stormwater as a 20 discharge point and monitor that location in accordance with the NPDES permit; (iii) 21 develop procedures for monitoring and disposal of methane system condensate to prevent 22 discharges of condensate to the ground; (iv) revise the BMPs to include additional 23 sweeping at the Facility entrance to minimize sediment trackout; (v) after a review to 24 assess the sufficiency of the current SMP, including the sufficiency of the currently 25 selected Best Management Practices (BMPs), otherwise revise the SMP as necessary to 26 achieve compliance with the NPDES Permit. CONSENT DECREE Smith & Lowney, p.l.l.c. 1 f. Within ten (10) days of entry of this Consent Decree, Fruhling will 2 prevent methane system condensate from discharging to the ground. 3 9. Payment in Lieu of Penalty: 4 a. Fruhling will make payments in the amount of the lesser of fifty percent 5 (50%) of the Net Proceeds on Sale of the Property or Four Hundred Thousand Dollars 6 ($400,000) ("the Payment in Lieu of Penalty"). "Net Proceeds on Sale of the Property"
7 means all proceeds of the sale of the Property remaining after satisfaction and payment of 8 all financial encumbrances on the Property, real estate excise taxes due in connection 9 with the sale, commissions, closing costs including escrow fees and costs of recording 10 and reconveyance, title insurance premiums, and the costs of litigation owed per 11 paragraph 10 of this Consent Decree. If Fruhling contends the Payment in Lieu of 12 Penalty is less than $400,000, it will promptly provide Waste Action Project with copies 13 of all documentation used to calculate the Payment in Lieu of Penalty. Payments towards 14 the Payment in Lieu of Penalty will be made to EarthCorps for environmental benefit 15 projects in the Swamp Creek watershed, as described in Exhibit B to this Consent Decree. 16 Checks will be made to the order of and delivered to EarthCorps, Attn: Steve Dubiel, 17 6310 NE 74th Street, Suite 201E, Seattle, WA 09115. Payment shall include the 18 following reference in a cover letter or on the check: “Consent Decree, WAP v. Fruhling 19 Sand and Topsoil, Inc.” Fruhling will send copies of all checks and cover letters 20 simultaneously to Greg Wingard, Waste Action Project, P.O. Box 9281, Covington, WA 21 98042. Fruhling will satisfy this obligation as follows: 22 b. Fruhling will make monthly payments of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) 23 until it pays the entirety of the Payment in Lieu of Penalty. These monthly payments will 24 be due on the first day of each month. A check mailed and postmarked on or before the 25 first of the month will be considered timely. For every day a payment is late, Fruhling 26 will pay an additional Twenty-Five Dollars ($25) as stipulated damages for late CONSENT DECREE Smith & Lowney, p.l.l.c. 1 payments. Fruhling may at any time pay the entire remaining balance of the Payment in 2 Lieu of Penalty, plus any accrued late fees, to satisfy its obligation under Paragraph 9. 3 c. Fruhling’s first monthly payment to EarthCorps will be due on the first of 4 the month following satisfaction of Fruhling’s obligations in Paragraph 10, below. 5 d. Fruhling commits to diligently pursue a sale of the Property and to 6 maximize the sale price. Fruhling will pay any remaining balance of the Payment in Lieu
7 of Penalty, plus any accrued late fees, within seven (7) days of closing on any sale of the 8 Property. Fruhling will within one (1) business day notify Waste Action Project when it 9 receives any written purchase offers (including the offer amount), when it executes a 10 purchase and sale agreement, and when the sale closes. 11 10. Costs of Litigation: 12 a. Fruhling will pay Waste Action Project’s reasonable attorney and expert 13 fees and costs in the amount of Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000), pursuant to 14 the Promissory Note executed in favor of Smith & Lowney PLLC on December 24, 2019 15 and attached hereto as Exhibit C. Checks will be made to the order of and delivered to 16 Smith & Lowney PLLC, 2317 E. John Street, Seattle, WA 98112, Attn: Knoll Lowney. 17 Fruhling will satisfy this obligation as follows, consistent with the Promissory Note: 18 b. Fruhling will make monthly installment payments of Five Thousand 19 Dollars ($5,000) each month, commencing on the first day of the month following entry 20 of this Consent Decree. The full balance, including any accrued interest and late fees 21 provided in the Promissory Note attached hereto as Exhibit C, will be due and payable on 22 the first day of the fortieth month after the first installment date, or seven (7) days after 23 the closing date for the sale of the Property, whichever occurs earlier. Fruhling may at 24 any time pay the entire remaining balance of the $200,000 before the due date, plus any 25 accrued interest and late fees, to satisfy its obligation under Paragraph 10. 26 CONSENT DECREE Smith & Lowney, p.l.l.c. 1 c. Fruhling commits to pursue sale of the Facility and to maximize the sale 2 price. Fruhling will within one (1) business day immediately notify Waste Action Project 3 when it receives any written purchase offers (including the offer amount), when it 4 executes a purchase and sale agreement and when the sale closes. 5 11. The payments described under Paragraphs 9 and 10 above shall be in full and 6 complete satisfaction of any claims Waste Action Project has or may have against Fruhling,
7 either legal or equitable, and of any kind or nature whatsoever, for fees, expenses, and costs 8 incurred in this litigation, or for civil penalties, or payments in lieu of civil penalties pursuant to 9 a supplemental environmental project under the CWA, or relief of any nature whatsoever not 10 provided for in this Consent Decree. 11 12. A force majeure event is any event outside the reasonable control of Fruhling that 12 causes a delay in performing tasks required by this decree that cannot be cured by due diligence. 13 Delay in performance of a task required by this decree caused by a force majeure event is not a 14 failure to comply with the terms of this decree, provided that Fruhling timely notifies Waste 15 Action Project of the event; the steps that Fruhling will take to perform the task; the projected 16 time that will be needed to complete the task; and the measures that have been taken or will be 17 taken to prevent or minimize any impacts to water quality resulting from delay in completing the 18 task. 19 Fruhling will notify Waste Action Project of the occurrence of a force majeure event as 20 soon as reasonably possible but, in any case, no later than fifteen (15) days after the occurrence 21 of the event. In such event, the time for performance of the task will be extended for a 22 reasonable period of time following the force majeure event. 23 By way of example and not limitation, force majeure events include 24 a. Acts of God, war, insurrection, or civil disturbance; 25 b. Earthquakes, landslides, fire, floods; 26 CONSENT DECREE Smith & Lowney, p.l.l.c. 1 c. Actions or inactions of third parties over which defendants have no 2 control; 3 d. Unusually adverse weather conditions; 4 e. Restraint by court order or order of public authority; 5 f. Strikes; 6 g. Any permit or other approval sought by Fruhling from a government
7 authority to implement any of the actions required by this consent decree 8 where such approval is not granted or is delayed, and where Fruhling has 9 timely and in good faith sought the permit or approval; and 10 h. Litigation, arbitration, or mediation that causes delay. 11 13. This Court retains jurisdiction over this matter. And, while this Consent Decree 12 remains in force, this case may be reopened without filing fee so that the parties may apply to the 13 Court for any further order that may be necessary to enforce compliance with this decree or to 14 resolve any dispute regarding the terms or conditions of this Consent Decree. In the event of a 15 dispute regarding implementation of, or compliance with, this Consent Decree, the parties must 16 first attempt to resolve the dispute by meeting to discuss the dispute and any suggested measures 17 for resolving the dispute. The provisions of CWA section 505(d), 33 U.S.C. § 1365(d), 18 regarding awards of costs of litigation (including reasonable attorney and expert witness fees) to 19 any prevailing or substantially prevailing party, will apply to any proceedings seeking to enforce 20 the terms and conditions of this Consent Decree. 21 15. The parties recognize that, pursuant to 33 U.S.C. § 1365(c)(3), no consent 22 judgment can be entered in a Clean Water Act suit in which the United States is not a party prior 23 to forty-five (45) days following the receipt of a copy of the proposed consent judgment by the 24 U.S. Attorney General and the Administrator of the U.S. EPA. Therefore, upon the filing of this 25 Consent Decree by the parties, Waste Action Project will serve copies of it upon the 26 Administration of the U.S. EPA and the Attorney General, with a copy to Fruhling. CONSENT DECREE Smith & Lowney, p.l.l.c. 1 16. This Consent Decree will take effect upon entry by this Court. Upon both (a) 2 satisfaction of the payment obligations under Paragraphs 9 and 10, and (b) issuance of any No 3 Further Action letter by Ecology with respect to the obligations under paragraph 8.c of this 4 Consent Decree, or after two years from the date of entry of this Consent Decree, whichever is 5 later, the parties shall jointly notify the Court and request termination of this Consent Decree and 6 dismissal of the case in accordance with Paragraph 5. The parties by agreement may request
7 termination and dismissal after performance of both (a) and (b) above. 8 17. All parties have participated in drafting this Consent Decree. 9 18. This Consent Decree may be modified only upon the approval of the Court. 10 19. If for any reason the Court should decline to approve this Consent Decree in the 11 form presented, this Consent Decree is voidable at the discretion of either party. The parties 12 agree to continue negotiations in good faith in an attempt to cure any objection raised by the 13 Court to entry of this Consent Decree. 14 20. All communications between the parties shall be through legal counsel. 15 Notifications or copies required by this Consent Decree to be made to Waste Action Project shall 16 be delivered electronically to: Waste Action Project 17 Attn: Greg Wingard P.O. Box 9281, 18 Covington, WA 98042 19 E-mail: gwingard@earthlink.net 20 Notifications required by this Consent Decree to be made to Fruhling shall be mailed to:
21 Dan Fruhling Fruhling Sand & Topsoil, Inc. 22 7534 NE 175th St #1 23 Kenmore, WA 98028 E-mail: 59rockman@gmail.com 24 With a copy to: 25 Douglas Morrison Miller Nash Graham & Dunn 26 CONSENT DECREE Smith & Lowney, p.l.l.c. 1 2801 Alaskan Way #300 Seattle WA 98121 2 E-mail: douglas.morrison@millernash.com 3 A notice or other communication regarding this Consent Decree will be effective when 4 received unless the notice or other communication is received after 5:00 p.m. on a business day, 5 6 or on a day that is not a business day, then the notice will be deemed received at 9:00 a.m. on the
7 next business day. A notice or other communication will be deemed to have been received: (a) if 8 itis delivered in person or sent by registered or certified mail or by nationally recognized 9 overnight courier, upon receipt as indicated by the date on the signed receipt; or (b) if the 10 receiving party rejects or otherwise refuses to accept it, or if it cannot be delivered because of a 11 change in address for which no notice was given, then upon that rejection, refusal, or inability to 12 deliver. 13 14 DATED this 24 day of February, 2020. 15 5 | 16 RICARDO S. MARTINEZ 17 CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 18 19 20 Presented by: 21 MILLER NASH GRAHAM & DUNN LLP SMITH & LOWNEY PLLC 3 By s/Marc Zemel By s/Douglas Morrison Mare Zemel, WSBA #44325 24 Douglas Morrison, WSBA #18769 Attorneys for Plaintiff Attorneys for Defendant Waste Action Project Fruhling Sand & Topsoil, Inc. 25 26 CONSENT DECREE SMITH & LOWNEY, P.L.L.c. No. 2:17-cv-00498-RSM 2317 EAST JOHN ST. 1837-64 11 SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 981 12 (206) RGO0.20222
EAMIBIT A cna is a STATE OF WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY Northwest Regional Office ¢ 3190 160th Ave SE © Bellevue, WA 98008-5452 © 425-649-7000 711 for Washington Relay Service « Persons with a speech disability can call 877-833-6341 OCT 22 2019
Mr. Dan Fruhling, President Agreed Order Docket No. | 16479 ~ Fruhling Sand & Topsoil, Inc. Site Location 1010 228" Street SW 7524 NE 175" Street __| Bothell, WA 98021 Kenmore, WA 98028-3596
Re: Agreed Order Dear Mr. Fruhling: Enclosed is a copy of the signed and effective Agreed Order number 16479. The enclosed Order may not be appealed. The Order is effective as of October 18, 2019. Note that the Ecology contact listed in this Agreed Order, Jacob Carnes, will no longer be in this role as of October 25, 2019. If you have any questions concerning the content of the document, please contact Jerry Shervey at (425) 649-7293 or gshe461@ecy.wa.gov. Sincerely,
Rachel McCrea Water Quality Section Manager Northwest Regional Office Washington State Department of Ecology Enclosure: Agreed Order No. 16479 By Certified Mail No.: 9171 9690 0935 0204 6821 77 ce: Central Files, Fruhling Sand & Topsoil, Inc., Sand and Gravel General Permit No. WAG503168, WQ 6.4 ec: Gerald Shervey, Ecology Jacob Carnes, Ecology Gretchen Onstad, Ecology Stacy Patterson, Farallon Consulting, spatterson@farallonconsulting.com Daniel Fruhling, Fruhling Sand & Topsoil, 59rockman@gmail.com Larry Carron, Fruhling Sand & Topsoil, larry@fruhlinginc.com Douglas Morrison, Miller Nash Graham & Dunn LLP, douglas.morrison@millernash.com
STATE OF WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY
IN THE MATTER OF AN ) AGREED ORDER ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER ) DOCKET NO. 16479 AGAINST: ) FRUHLING SAND & TOPSOIL, INC. ) MR. DAN FRUHLING ) To: Mr. Dan Fruhling, President Fruhling Sand & Topsoil, Inc. 7524 NE 175" Street Kenmore, WA 98028-3596
LSINTRODUC ONS =e a ee Se This is an Agreed Order between the Department of Ecology (Ecology) and Fruhling Sand & Topsoil, Inc. (Fruhling) to achieve compliance with Sand and Gravel National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and State Waste Discharge General Permit number WAGS503168, RCW 90.48.080, WAC 173-201A-260, and WAC 173-216-040, by taking certain actions which are described below to eliminate discharge from a buried pipe to surface water. Il, RECOGNITION OF ECOLOGY'S JURISDICTION = This Agreed Order is issued pursuant to the authority vested in Ecology by the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (FWPCA), 33 U.S.C. sec 1311, et seq. and Chapter 90.48 Revised Code of Washington (RCW). RCW 90.48.030 provides that Ecology shall have the jurisdiction to control and prevent the pollution of streams, lakes, rivers, ponds, inland waters, salt waters, water courses, other surface and underground waters of the state of Washington. RCW 90.48.120 authorizes Ecology to issue administrative orders requiring compliance whenever it determines that a person has violated or created a substantial potential to violate any provision of Chapter 90.48 RCW or fails to control the polluting content of waste to be discharged to waters of the state. Fruhling agrees to undertake all actions required of it by the terms and conditions of this Agreed Order and not to contest Ecology’s jurisdiction and authority to administer this Agreed Order. Fruhling agrees not to appeal this Agreed Order. Nothing in this Agreed Order shall in any way relieve Fruhling of its obligations to comply with the requirements of its Permit. Nor shall anything in this Agreed Order limit Ecology’s authority to enforce the provisions of the aforementioned Permit. Nothing in this Order will confer or designate compliance with the Model Toxics Control Act, WAC 173-340.
Agreed Order Docket No. 16479 Fruhling Sand & Topsoil, Inc. Page 2 of 8
Ecology’s determination that a violation has occurred or may occur is based on the following facts. This Agreed Order is being issued to Fruhling Sand & Topsoil, Inc. (Fruhling) to address a discharge of arsenic contaminated groundwater that is not subject to the monitoring requirements of the facility’s Sand & Gravel General Permit number WAG503168 (Permit). The Fruhling facility is a reclaimed mine that recycles asphalt and concrete, and makes topsoil mixes. The Sand and Gravel NPDES and State Waste Discharge General Permit was issued to all permit applicants on February 17, 2016, with a five-year effective period of April 1, 2016, through March 31, 2021. The Permit WAG503168 authorizes Fruhling to discharge Type 3 stormwater to Crystal Creek at monitoring point MP1, and to ground at monitoring points MP2 and MP3. The Type 3 stormwater discharge is subject to complying with the discharge limits and prohibitions set forth in special condition S1 of the Permit and all other special and general requirements specified in the Permit. Fruhling Sand & Topsoil, Inc. is located on the site of a former mine that was active from 1952 to 1965. The areas of the site that were mined have been restored to elevations specified in the Department of Natural Resources reclamation permit #10402 and a settling pond in the interior of the mine was back-filled during reclamation. Fill materials have been placed at the site since approximately 1992. Fruhling has participated in Ecology’s Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP), under the Model Toxics Control Act, during two time periods as project numbers NW1665 from 8/16/2006 to 1/7/2008 and NW2657 from 11/20/2012 to 8/17/2018. Elevated levels of arsenic were detected on site in groundwater and surface water during both VCP participation periods. A letter from VCP to Fruhling, dated January 12, 2015, states that elevated levels of arsenic and iron in the groundwater are attributed to reducing conditions caused by degradation of wood placed in the fill materials. On two separate occasions (2/1/2018 and 3/11/2019), Ecology inspectors have observed an orange residue in the drainage ditch (Photos | and 2) and native growth protection area (wetland, in Photos 3 and 4) that drains to Crystal Creek south of the Fruhling facility. The first inspection was unannounced in response to a citizen complaint regarding a groundwater seep discharging discolored water to the ditch and wetland adjoining homeowner properties. The second inspection was conducted by invitation from Fruhling to address violations identified in the first inspection. On May 24, 2019, split sampling was conducted by Fruhling and the Waste Action Project (WAP). Results in Table 1 show that arsenic was detected in the (end-of-pipe) water entering the drainage ditch and in the sediments of the drainage ditch. The total arsenic in the “end-of-pipe” sample exceeds the state and federal human health criteria for surface water (freshwater). The discharge originates from a conveyance pipe that was originally installed to provide overflow drainage from a settling pond that was used when the site was actively mined, reclaimed, or both. The settling pond has been filled in, but the conveyance pipe remains buried in place. The discharge from the pipe flows to a manhole that discharges into several hundred feet of ditch that empties into a wetland designated as a native growth protection area. The water discharged from the conveyance pipe does not meet the Permit definition of
Fruhling Sand & Topsoil, Inc. Page 3 of 8
Type 2 stormwater, Type 3 stormwater, process water, or mine dewatering water, and therefore is not subject to the monitoring requirements or effluent limits of the Permit.
Table 1: Parameters measured in water and sediment samples at Fruhling on May 24, 2019 Measured Value (Fruhling) Measured Value (WAP) End of pipe Water 3.87 jig/L (dissolved Arsenic) 4.88 pg/L (dissolved Arsenic) 14.3 pg/L (Total Arsenic) 13.2 ug/L (Total Arsenic) Drainage Ditch Sediment 256 mg/Kg-dry (Arsenic) 217 mg/Kg-dry (Arsenic) 85.3 wt% (moisture) 81.6 wt% (moisture) WAP = Waste Action Project
The water discharged from the buried conveyance pipe to the ditch system on the southwest side of the property and the related accumulation of orange residue violates RCW 90.48.080, WAC 173-201A-260(2b), and WAC 173-216-040, RCW 90.48.080: Discharge of polluting matter in waters prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person to throw, drain, run, or otherwise discharge into any of the waters of this state, or to cause, permit or suffer to be thrown, run, drained, allowed to seep or otherwise discharged into such waters any organic or inorganic matter that shall cause or tend to cause pollution of such waters according to the determination of the department, as provided for in this chapter. WAC 173-201A-260: Natural conditions and other water quality criteria and applications. (2) Toxics and aesthetics criteria. The following narrative criteria apply to all existing and designated uses for fresh and marine water: ... (b) Aesthetic values must not be impaired by the presence of materials or their effects, excluding those of natural origin, which offend the senses of sight, smell, touch, or taste... WAC 173-216-040: Authorization required. (1) No waste materials may be discharged from any commercial or industrial operation into waters of the state, or into any municipal sewerage system, nor may waste materials be discharged from any municipal sewerage system into waters of the state, except as authorized pursuant to this chapter, chapter 173-220 or 173-226 WAC. (2) Any person who constructs or modifies or proposes to construct or modify wastewater facilities must first comply with the regulations for submission of plans and reports for construction of wastewater facilities, chapter 173-240 WAC,
AgreeO VICE? VOCKEE NO. Fruhling Sand & Topsoil, Inc. Page 4 of 8
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□□ WU) DALAL Pa. Fruhling Sand & Topsoil, Inc. Page 5 of 8
For the reasons detailed above, and in accordance with RCW 90.48.120, IT IS AGREED that Fruhling shall take the following actions by the dates set forth below. These actions are necessary to satisfy the requirements of RCW 90.48.080, WAC 173-201A-260, and WAC 173-216-040. Fruhling has participated in defining these actions and the dates by which they shall be completed. Fruhling shall also submit permit applications and documents needing approvals from the various government agencies in a timely fashion in order that the dates for the various actions are able to be met. Fruhling and Ecology are entering into this Agreed Order to address these violations. Fruhling prefers to eliminate the arsenic contaminated groundwater discharge to surface water by either treatment and infiltration, or routing to a sanitary sewer. If these options are not feasible, Fruhling will obtain an individual NPDES permit for discharge. Ecology requests that Fruhling prepare the following deliverables: 1) Within 90 days of the execution of this Agreed Order, Fruhling must complete a feasibility study of the three options for source control: A. Treatment and infiltration B. Discharge to sewer C. Individual NPDES Permit 2) If the feasibility study determines that option A or B is feasible, then Fruhling must submit, within 120 days of execution of this Agreed Order, a plan and a schedule for implementation of a treatment/infiltration system or sewer discharge connection. 3) Ifthe study determines that options A and B are not feasible, then Fruhling must submit, within 180 days of execution of this Agreed Order, a new discharge application for an Individual NPDES Permit that includes a description of the proposed treatment system. 4) Upon startup of any treatment or infiltration system, Fruhling must submit an Operations and Maintenance Plan for the system. 5) Within 120 days of execution of this Agreed Order, Fruhling must submit a plan and schedule for removal and disposal of the soil layer discolored by orange residue in and near the ditch along the homeowner properties neighboring the mine property. PROGRESS REPORTING [202 2 oe eee Fruhling shall immediately notify Ecology of any occurrence which may result in noncompliance with the requirements of this Agreed Order. Such notifications shall state the nature of the potential noncompliance, the reason(s) therefore and the actions taken by Fruhling to address the potential noncompliance.
Amendments to the agreed compliance schedule may be requested for good cause. Extension of the deadline imposed by this Agreed Order is unlikely and will only be granted when requests for extensions are submitted in writing, in a timely fashion, and demonstrate good
Agreed Order Docket No. 16479 Fruhling Sand & Topsoil, Inc. Page 6 of 8
cause for granting the extension. Failure to obtain financial assistance in the form of grants or loans shall not be considered good cause. To be effective, all proposed amendments must be signed by the person with signature authority for each party.
This Order is effective on the date the agreement has been signed by both parties. ViITERMINATIONOF THEAGREED ORDER = Upon completion by Fruhling of the actions identified in Section IV of this Agreed Order and issuance of a Notice of Compliance by Ecology, the requirements of this Agreed Order shall be deemed to be fulfilled and shall have no further effect on Fruhling. IX. DISPUTE RESOLUTION eee 2 ee ee If a dispute arises between Ecology and Fruhling regarding any noncompliance with this Agreed Order, the parties shall attempt to resolve the dispute by informal resolution. A dispute shall be considered to have arisen when one party notifies another, in writing, that there is a dispute. If the parties cannot resolve the dispute informally within thirty (30) days, Fruhling shall serve on Ecology a written Statement of Position. Within thirty (30) days after receipt of Fruhling’s Statement of Position, Ecology shall provide Fruhling with a final administrative decision.
Failure to comply with this Agreed Order may result in the issuance of civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day or other actions, whether administrative or judicial, to enforce the terms of this Agreed Order.
By signing this Agreed Order, Fruhling may not appeal this Agreed Order, however, a third party may. A party other than Fruhling has a right to appeal this Order to the Pollution Control Hearing Board (PCHB) within thirty (30) days of the date of receipt of this Order. The appeal process is governed by Chapter 43.21B RCW and Chapter 371-08 WAC. “Date of receipt” is defined in RCW 43.21B.001(2). To appeal, you must do both of the following within thirty (30) days of the date of receipt of this Order: e File your appeal and a copy of this Order with the PCHB (see addresses below). Filing means actual receipt by the PCHB during regular business hours. e Serve a copy of your appeal and this Order on Ecology in paper form - by mail or in person. (See addresses below.) E-mail is not accepted. You must also comply with other applicable requirements in Chapter 43.21B RCW and Chapter 371-08 WAC.
Fruhling Sand & Topsoil, Inc. Page 7 of 8
Your appeal alone will not stay the effectiveness of this Order. Stay requests must be submitted in accordance with RCW 43.21B.320. XIL ADDRESS ANDLOCATIONINFORMATION = =—— Street Addresses Mailing Addresses □□ Department of Ecology Department of Ecology Attn: Appeals Processing Desk Attn: Appeals Processing Desk 300 Desmond Drive SE PO Box 47608 Lacey, WA 98503 Olympia, WA 98504-7608 Pollution Control Hearings Board Pollution Control Hearings Board 1111 Israel Road SW PO Box 40903 STE 301 Olympia, WA 98504-0903 Tumwater, WA 98501
NCCONTAGT NFORUMTONE SE eee eee Please direct all questions about this Order to: Jacob Carnes Sand and Gravel Permit Manager Department of Ecology Northwest Regional Office 3190 160" Avenue SE Bellevue, WA 98008-5452 Phone: (425) 649-7289 Email: carj461@ecy.wa.gov XIV.MORE INFORMATION = Sige Sep eee ee e¢ Pollution Control Hearings Board Website: □□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□□ e Chapter 43.21B RCW - Environmental and Land Use Hearings Office — Pollution Control Hearings Board: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=43.21B e Chapter.371-08 WAC — Practice And Procedure: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WA C/default.aspx?cite=37 1-08 e Chapter 34.05 RCW — Administrative Procedure Act: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RC W/default.aspx ?cite=34.05 e¢ Ecology's Laws, rules, & rulemaking website: https://ecology.wa.gov/A bout-us/How-we-operate/Laws-rules-rulemaking
Agreed Order Docket No. 16479 Fruhling Sand & Topsoil, Inc. Page 8 of 8
XV. SIGNATURES Boe
nFrubling Date Fruhling Sand & Topsoil, Inc. Ki McCrea Date | Water Quality Section Manager Northwest Regional Office Washington State Department of Ecology
= EXHIBIT B foro} > a
December 19, 2019 RE: Waste Action Project v. Fruhling Sand & Topsoil, Inc. To Whom It May Concern: This letter is intended to provide assurance that | have received the Consent Decree between Waste Action Project and Fruhling Sand & Topsoil, Inc. (“Fruhling”) and that | am authorized by my Board of Directors to make the following binding commitments on behalf of EarthCorps: 1. | understand that EarthCorps should receive funds from Fruhling as specified in the Consent Decree. 2. EarthCorps shall only use these Fruhling funds for environmentally beneficial projects which benefit the lands and waters of Puget Sound. We shall expend these funds working with partners wholly dedicated to supporting projects which benefit the water quality of Puget Sound focused in and around the Swamp Creek watershed. 3. Due to the location of the Fruhling in the Swamp Creek watershed, in selecting projects, EarthCorps shall target the funds towards projects located in or benefitting the Swamp Creek watershed. Furthermore, EarthCorps shall work with community partners to select projects that benefit not only the watershed, but also neighborhoods and communities impacted by environmental degradation in the area. 4. After funds have been disbursed, EarthCorps shall send a report to the Justice Department, the Court and the Parties describing how the funds were utilized and demonstrating conformance with the nexus of the Consent Decree. EarthCorps is a community-based 501(c)3 nonprofit (Tax ID 91-1592017) organization dedicated to protecting and restoring local watershed lands. EarthCorps’ mission is to develop leaders who strengthen community and restore the health of our environment. To fulfill this mission, EarthCorps raises money and secures funding to conduct the following activities: e Implement habitat restoration and stewardship projects. Primary activities by EarthCorps have focused on invasive plant removal and installation of native plants and creation and stewardship of green stormwater infrastructure. e Engage youth and community volunteers in hands-on stewardship. e Train young adults for stewardship careers. e Partner with government, nonprofit, and community organizations in carrying out our charitable purpose. e EarthCorps does not support lobbying activities that are prohibited by Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code, and no portion of the Fruhling funds shall be used to support any political lobbying activities whatsoever.
LOCAL RESTORATION | GLOBAL LEADERSHIP
EarthCorps is governed by a Board of Directors. EarthCorps is committed to sound fiscal management. EarthCorps contracts with an independent certified public accounting firm to conduct an audit annually. Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions or for additional information.
Sincerely,
Steve Dubie Executive Director
EXHIBIT C WASHINGTON PROMISSORY NOTE (SECURED)
ON THIS 24th DAY OF December, 2019, Fruhling Sand & Topsoil, Inc., of 1010 228" Street SW, Bothell, WA, hereinafter known as the “Maker” promises to pay to Smith & Lowney, PLLC, of 2317 E. John St., Seattle, WA 98112, hereinafter known as the “Payee”, the principal sum of TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND Dollars ($200,000.00).
1. PAYMENTS: Maker shall pay (check the applicable box) []- NO INSTALLMENTS. Payment in full of principal and interest accrued shall be payable on the due date. X - INSTALLMENTS of principal and interest in the amount of FIVE THOUSAND Dollars ($5,000.00) L] - INTEREST ONLY PAYMENTS on the outstanding principal balance. If installments or interest only payments are checked above, such installment payment shall be due and payable on the (check the applicable box) X - First day of every month beginning on the first day of the month following court entry of the proposed consent decree in W.D. Wash Case No. 2:17-cv- 00498-RSM. L] - Every week beginning on the day of ,20_. 2. DUE DATE: The full balance on this Note, including any accrued interest and late fees, is due and payable on the first day of the fortieth month after the first installment date above, or seven (7) days after the closing date for sale of 1010 228"" Street SW, Bothell, WA, whichever occurs earlier. 3. INTEREST DUE IN THE EVENT OF DEFAULT: In the event that the Maker fails to pay the note in full on the due date or has failed to make an installment payment due within 15 days of the due date, unpaid principal shall accrue interest at the rate of four and a half percent (4.5%) per annum OR the maximum rate allowed by law, whichever is less, until the Maker is no longer in default.
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due, then to interest due and any remainder will be credited to principal.
5. PREPAYMENT: Maker may pre-pay this Note without penalty.
6. LATE FEES: If the Payee receives any installment payment more than ten days after the date that it is due, then a late payment fee of $25.00, shall be payable with the scheduled installment payment. If the Payee receives any installment payment more than sixty days after the date that it is due, then a late payment fee of $525.00, shall be payable with the scheduled installment payment.
7. DUE ON SALE: This Note is secured by a security instrument described in Section 17 securing repayment of this Note. If Maker sells the property described in such security instrument, Payee may declare all sums due under this Note immediately due and payable, unless prohibited by applicable law.
8. ACCELERATION: If the Maker is in default under this Note or is in default under the security instrument securing repayment of this Note, and such default is not cured within thirty days after written notice of such default, then Payee may, at its option, declare all outstanding sums owed on this Note to be immediately due and payable, in addition to any other rights or remedies that Payee may have under the security instrument or state and federal law.
9. ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND COSTS: Maker shall pay all costs incurred by Payee in collecting sums due under this Note after a default, including reasonable attorneys’ fees. If Payee or Maker sues to enforce this Note or obtain a declaration of its rights hereunder, the prevailing party in any such proceeding shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in the proceeding (including those incurred in any bankruptcy proceeding or appeal) from the non-prevailing party.
10. WAIVER OF PRESENTMENTS: Maker waives presentment for payment, notice of dishonor, protest and notice of protest.
11. NON-WAIVER: No failure or delay by Payee in exercising Payee’s rights under this Note shall be considered a waiver of such rights.
12. SEVERABILITY: In the event that any provision herein is determined to be void or unenforceable for any reason, such determination shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision, all of which shall remain in full force and effect.
13. INTEGRATION: There are no verbal or other agreements which modify or affect the terms of this Note. This Note may not be modified or amended except by written agreement signed by Maker and Payee.
Copyright © 2016 by PromissoryNotes.org 14. CONFLICTING TERMS: In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Note and the terms of any security instrument securing payment of this Note, the terms of this Note shall prevail. 15.NOTICE: Any notices required or permitted to be given hereunder Shall be given in writing and shall be delivered (a) in person, (b) by certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, (c) by facsimile, or (d) by a commercial overnight courier that guarantees next day delivery and provides a receipt, and such notices shall be made to the parties at the addresses listed below. 16.EXECUTION: The Maker executes this Note as a principal and not as a surety. If there is more than one Maker, each Maker shall be jointly and severally liable under this Note. 17.SECURITY: THIS NOTE IS SECURED BY THE FOLLOWING: Maker's ownership interest in the real and personal property located at 1010 228" Street SW, Bothell, WA 98021. SIGNATURE AREA
This agreement was signed the eth day of Detenn base , 2019 by the following:
/ ( io ? □ (HA pA AS A> holl Lowney Dan Fryhling For Smith & Lowney, PLLC For Fruhling Sa Topsoil, Inc. Mp iL. Witness’s Signature Witness’s Signature ao Whe Mn, |p) [ei M Davi ll ; i} □□ Witness’s Printed Name ness’s Printed Name