Washington hospital agrees to $16K fine to settle hazardous waste violations

PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham, Wash., has agreed to pay a $16,000 settlement in response to violations of Washington's dangerous waste laws.

Washington’s Ecology Department found the hospital had shipped dangerous waste to a facility not licensed to handle it, did not properly train staff to handle the waste, failed to submit dangerous waste reports and also failed to conduct and document weekly waste storage inspections.

The Ecology Department originally set the fine at $24,000, but said it reduced the penalty because of St. Joseph's history of compliance.

"Improperly managing hazardous waste can lead to environmental damage and can threaten human health," said Darin Rice, manager of the Ecology Department’s hazardous waste and toxics reduction program. "We appreciate the hospital’s efforts to find a fast resolution to these issues and their desire to make sure violations of this nature do not happen again."

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