Lacey Contractor Fined $72,000 For Water Quality Violations

LACEY, WA — The Washington Department of Ecology is fining Milestone Companies a total of $72,000 for at least a dozen water quality violations. According to a release from the DOE, the violations happened during Milestone 's construction on the Woodbrook Townhomes project in Lacey.

Between September 2020 and October 2021, the DOE and Lacey inspectors say they noticed polluted stormwater draining from the construction site "numerous" times. According to investigators, Milestone Companies was warned each time, and even given technical assistance by the city of Lacey to prevent future pollutant spills, but didn't change their practices, and failed to report the violations.

The company also failed to notify Ecology of high sediment discharges, unprotected inlets, unmaintained silt fences, and destabilized soils.

"Stormwater runoff from construction sites can carry muddy water, debris, and chemicals into local waterways like the Deschutes River and Chambers Ditch," the agency said. "Sediments, chemicals, and debris can harm aquatic life and reduce water quality."

Milestone has 30 days to appeal the fines.