OLYMPIA — The Port of Olympia agreed to pay more than $1.3 million to settle a federal lawsuit alleging violations of the Clean Water Act at the port’s marine terminal, according to court documents.
The port and Waste Action Project of Covington settled the lawsuit that claimed the port was discharging polluted stormwater into Budd Inlet, The Olympian reported Saturday.
Waste Action Project filed the lawsuit in June 2017.
The port commission voted unanimously to approve the settlement last week.
Under the agreement, the port will pay $733,000 to cover Waste Action Project’s expenses and litigation fees.
The remaining $625,000 will be paid to environmental group The Rose Foundation of Oakland, Calif., which will use the money for “projects to improve the water quality of Budd Inlet or South Puget Sound,” according to the agreement’s consent decree.
The agreement also lays out corrective action including installation of a curb to prevent stormwater discharge at the marine terminal and restrictions related to loading logs.
