Illegal dumping of lead/arsenic into waterways by SeaSoft

[guruboy]

Potential libel suit?

 

[BRT]

Potential libel suit?

Against someone who is fighting you with your own money?

 

[tangfish]

Bruce,

Thank you for providing a detailed account of your side of the story. I made comments to our local diving community in support of you as a local small business owner, having had experiences of my own with state bureaucrats:
Seasoft Fined For Dumping Lead, Arsenic - Northwest Dive Club

I do have one follow up question though: could you please address this allegation that lead waste was ‘dumped down the toilet’? Some trace levels of lead on the toilet seat is a whole lot different than intentionally dumping contaminated wastewater down the toilet, as is being alleged in this article:
Scuba gear company fined $197K over dumped lead, arsenic

IF this waste material was not being dumped down the toilet, then this is not only a case of malicious miscommunication and embellishing on the part of a state agency, but it’s also a failure in journalistic integrity on the part of the AP/Q13.

I would love to hear a rebuttal of your points made from WA Ecology, but something tells me that one isn’t forthcoming, at least not in any form that we average humans would consider a substantive discourse.

 

[edwants2dive]

Bruce
I looked at the article linked in the original post and OMG. Nowhere in the article did they mention the response to their press release. Here is another fine example of government over reach and targeting of small business. This is pure bullying in my eyes. Hang in there things will work out. Best wishes and keep up the good fight.

 

[kelemvor]

Against someone who is fighting you with your own money?

Sure. People and businesses sue the government all the time. Many times very successfully.

 

[SnohomishDiver]

Ecology - although some of the folks I've dealt with there are quite professional - in the water division, the ones I've known in the waste division often have delusions of grandeur. One former colleague of mine at an environmental consulting firm went to work for Ecology. He flat out told me that if it wasn't for him (and his fellow superheroes) nobody would protect the environment. They really seem to believe that they are the thin green line. Part of the reason I got out of consulting was the distaste I felt in sitting in conference rooms full of lawyers and Ecology drones. These people have no compunction in putting small, productive, Mom & Pop companies out of business.

I really hope you can ride out this storm with only minor damage to your livelihood.

 

[lionfish-eater]

So did you have protocols for safe handling, manufacturing, and disposal prior to bring cited. Did you have all new hires take a pre employment blood test to establish a reference blood lead level. What if some of your employees had outside exposure say from old house remodeling or ammo reloading.
Sounds like a great response on your part cleaning up the message, but what if they didn't catch you. Lead pellets outside your property shows a total disregard for public safety. If you think a "few table spoons" of lead that failed to wash down the storm drain is okay than you are seriously underestimating the potential hazard.
Blaming the government for catching your lack of proper safe handling is BS.
How many of your employees take lead dust home with them at the end of their shift on the soles of their shoes? I bet if you sample the floor mats in the trucks of your long term employees you will find lead.
Sorry if this sounds harsh but as a manufacturer and employer you have responsibities. Had you not been caught nothing would have changed.
Sorry you see it as the evil government being the bad guys but glad you made some changes.
If you want to take it a step further, contact a professional who will help you establish a full set of protocols. It might even be a good way to talk your way out of the fine. Show them that you are preventing future issues, not just cleaning up the message you made.

P.S. maybe you could come up with an alternative to using lead.

 

[BRT]

So did you have protocols for safe handling, manufacturing, and disposal prior to bring cited. Did you have all new hires take a pre employment blood test to establish a reference blood lead level. What if some of your employees had outside exposure say from old house remodeling or ammo reloading.
Sounds like a great response on your part cleaning up the message, but what if they didn't catch you. Lead pellets outside your property shows a total disregard for public safety. If you think a "few table spoons" of lead that failed to wash down the storm drain is okay than you are seriously underestimating the potential hazard.
Blaming the government for catching your lack of proper safe handling is BS.
How many of your employees take lead dust home with them at the end of their shift on the soles of their shoes? I bet if you sample the floor mats in the trucks of your long term employees you will find lead.
Sorry if this sounds harsh but as a manufacturer and employer you have responsibities. Had you not been caught nothing would have changed.
Sorry you see it as the evil government being the bad guys but glad you made some changes.
If you want to take it a step further, contact a professional who will help you establish a full set of protocols. It might even be a good way to talk your way out of the fine. Show them that you are preventing future issues, not just cleaning up the message you made.

P.S. maybe you could come up with an alternative to using lead.

Lionfish Eater, I hope you do't use lead weights.

 

[lionfish-eater]

I rubber coated my weights.
I am not a manufacturer.
They have a responsibility to use safe handling procedures.

 

[Pinecube]

I wouldn't be surprised if the "unsold merchandise" was added in because it's reasonable to assume there is lead on lead weights.