Vancouver-based contractor Rotschy Inc. on Monday was fined $131,000 by the Washington State Department of Ecology after inspectors reportedly discovered sediment and stormwater runoff from a construction site into nearby wetlands and Packard Creek in Ridgefield. Rotschy Inc. is developing a 319-lot residential subdivision on the site. Ecology inspectors cited Rotschy Inc. for nine water quality violations between October 2021 and January. According to a Department of Ecology press release Tuesday, inspectors first witnessed the violations during inspections in October and November. Sediment and turbid construction stormwater were released into wetlands and Packard Creek from the adjacent construction site, Ecology said. Rotschy Inc. also reportedly failed to adequately stabilize the construction site, which led to stormwater being diverted into nearby wetlands. In December 2021, Ecology said inspectors found additional erosion impacts, as well as stormwater pumped from a pond into Packard Creek. Ecology said it repeatedly offered technical assistance to the company for three months, but the violations continued. The penalty can be appealed to the Pollution Control Hearings Board within 30 days.

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