U. S. Oil & Refining Co. v. Department of Ecology

Is the Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) barred, because of the statute of limitation, from collecting penalties against U. S. Oil & Refining Company for illegally discharging pollutants? The trial court, reversed by the Court of Appeals, held DOE was not barred. We agree with the result of the trial court and reverse the Court of Appeals.

On May 19, 1978, DOE imposed a total of $90,000 in civil penalties against respondent U. S. Oil, pursuant to RCW 90.48.144. The basis for these penalties was that on 18 separate days U. S. oil had submitted inaccurate monitoring reports and…