In answer to an earlier question about an appeal. My attorney and I feel that under the present political cloud of Governor Insley running for President of the United States that we should instead seek our remedy in Federal Court. Last month in a landmark case the Supreme court ruled that the 8th Amendments ban on excessive fines applies to STATES as well as the federal government.
Opinion analysis: Eighth Amendment’s ban on excessive fines applies to the states - SCOTUSblog
SEASOFT SCUBA did not harm its employees, the environment, and its spill was confined to a 15' x 25' gravel area beside our building to a depth of 1' and it was cleaned up immediately. It was our first offense, it did not enter the water system or sewer system and any number of people who go out on the weekend and "target practice" expend far more lead than we did. All employees were tested immediately in July and ALL of them had normal serum lead blood levels.
Yet we were fined $197,000.00. Now read about some other fines the Department of Ecology handed out and you will shake your head, we are bewildered. Read here.
Washington State Department of Ecology - Feb 13 Seattle Iron penalty
By the way, you can look for a Press Release for a vessel that spilled 558 gallons of diesel fuel into Portage Bay but you won't find one, instead you will find a tiny entry in the 4th quarter penalty page. It says this:
October 25, 2018 - Research vessel Rachel Carson spilled 558 gallons of diesel fuel to Portage Bay. Penalty: $4,000.00 Yes, that sounds fair to me, I spilled 2 or 3 lbs. of lead and immediately cleaned it up.
We are going to court to clear our name.