KGMI News
Ferndale, Wash. – Cargill Animal Nutrition Inc. has reached a settlement with two local environmental groups that accused the company of letting polluted rainwater run off Ferndale Grain plant.
Environmental groups Puget Soundkeeper Alliance and RE sources for Sustainable Communities alleged that the plant released storm water that was too cloudy and had too much zinc and copper that went into a ditch, then larger waterways, and eventually into Puget Sound, according to the suit.
Puget Soundkeeper’s Chris Wilke said in a press release that they applaud Cargill’s efforts to take these additional pollution steps that will “improve water quality in Schell Creek and the Lummi River.”
Gerald Baron of local advocacy group Save Family Farming told the Capital Press that the environmental groups had no contact with Cargill, and that the settlement was predictable as a business decision.
Under the settlement, Cargill will pay attorney fees and fund an environmental project overseen by the California-based Rose Foundation.