UniSea must pay federal and state civil penalties of USD 1,909,375. (Photo: Stock File/FIS)

UniSea to pay over USD 1.9 mln due to law violations

US Attorney Karen L Loeffler announced this week that Seattle-based seafood processing company UniSea will pay USD 1.9 million in penalties and for clean-up costs.

The news comes in response to allegations that UniSea violated federal and state laws when discharging ammonia and other waste substances from its plant on Amaknak Island in Unalaska, where it conducts its operations. 

According to the factual summary, UniSea starting in 2005 discharged ammonia and other pollutants from its facility in Unalaska into the water without a permit, thus violating the Clean Water Act.

The company also neglected to timely notify authorities of two hefty releases of ammonia from its facility in December 2007, which violated federal and state environmental reporting laws.

Per the proposed agreement, UniSea must pay federal and state civil penalties of USD 1,909,375.

Further, the company will also have to perform a benthic survey and potential clean-up of the site’s fish waste pile, and to execute a thorough environmental compliance plan to insure that it does not cause any future violations.

"This is definitely an important case and a great result for the state of Alaska," said Kevin Feldis, the criminal division chief for the US Attorney's Office in Anchorage, Alaska, reports McClatchy Washington Bureau. "It certainly sends an important message of deterrence and accountability for environment violations." 

The underlying complaint filed with the settlement this week in federal court reveals that UniSea released anhydrous ammonia, propylene glycol, unscreened seafood processing wastewater, crab waste, stick water, fishmeal and foam from outfalls at its Dutch Harbor facility from July 2005 to February 2008.

Thus violating the terms of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2003. 

Further, the complaint alleges that UniSea did not properly notify authorities of two large ammonia releases consisting of approximately 17,000 lb in December 2007.

The amount exceeded the reportable quantity for ammonia in violation of Superfund (CERCLA) and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), as facilities must report releases in excess of 100 lb. 

These releases were not reported to the appropriate federal, state or local authorities until mid-January 2008.

UniSea runs its main seafood processing facility on southeast Amaknak Island, in Unalaska, Alaska.

The company, owned by Japanese firm Nippon Suisan Kaisha (Nissui), produces seafood products ranging from pollock to pollock roe, Pacific cod, black cod, snow crab, king crab, halibut, whitefish meal and fish oil. 

By Natalia Real
editorial@seafood.media
www.seafood.media

Address:	15400 NE 90th St., P.O. Box 97019
City:	Redmond
State/ZIP:	Washington (98073-9719)
Country:	United States
Phone:	+1 425 881-8181
Fax:	+1 425 861-5249
E-Mail:	info@unisea.com
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