State fines asphalt paver $49,000

A Moses Lake-based asphalt paving company with an office in Benton City and that worked on Tri-City projects was recently fined $49,000 for releasing asphalt into Peshastin Creek near the interchange of highways 2 and 97. 

Central Washington Asphalt was repaving one of the bridges on Highway 2 in July 2023 when at least 70 gallons of hot mixed asphalt fell through a gap between it and the neighboring bridge, according to a release from Washington Department of Ecology. About 35 gallons entered the creek with the rest landing on the creek bed and banks. 

Peshastin Creek supports species listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and serves as a spawning and cold-water refuge site. 

State officials discovered the spill several weeks later. Ecology’s investigation found the company did not have sufficient methods to prevent the spill. Ultimately Ecology workers removed about 20 gallons of the spilled and hardened asphalt but were unable to recover more. 

“Despite Ecology’s repeated direction, Central Washington Asphalt’s attempts to remove the material were ineffective, and it remained in place,” the agency said in a statement. 

Central Washington Asphalt has 30 days to appeal the penalty to the Washington Pollution Control Hearings Board. 

Central Washington Asphalt did repaving work on West Richland’s 38th Avenue and Mt. Adams View Drive. It also worked on the Duportail Street Bridge in Richland, which opened in 2020.