Ecology fines owner of two boats sunk in the Hoquiam River thousands

By Dan Hammock • February 1, 2019 6:00 pm
COURTESY DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY The Lady Grace fishing vessel sank in the Hoquiam River March 2, 2018, on the west side of the river north of the Hum Dinger restaurant. The owner of this vessel and one other has been fined by the State Department of Ecology for the sinkings and related spill response and cleanup.
COURTESY DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY The Lady Grace fishing vessel sank in the Hoquiam River March 2, 2018, on the west side of the river north of the Hum Dinger restaurant. The owner of this vessel and one other has been fined by the State Department of Ecology for the sinkings and related spill response and cleanup.

The state Department of Ecology has taken action against the owner of two of the seven sunken vessels in the Hoquiam River, including a bill for more than $29,000 to reimburse Ecology’s Spills Program for its cleanup efforts related to one of the vessels.

On Thursday, “We issued the following enforcement actions to John Simons Jr., who is the owner of the Perwyn and Lady Grace,” said Sandy Howard, Communications Manager for Ecology’s Spills Program.

Action includes:

• $1,500 penalty for the fishing vessel Perwyn sinking and spill on July 26, 2017.

• $2,000 penalty for the fishing vessel Lady Grace sinking and spill on March 2, 2018.

• $29,022.85 bill to reimburse the Department of Ecology’s expenses in responding to the Lady Grace.

“Additionally, Simons received two resource damage assessments,” said Howard. “A resource damage assessment may be an environmental restoration or enhancement project, or a payment into a fund that pays for such projects.”

• $2,360.24 for the fishing vessel Perwin

• $10,116.65 for the fishing vessel Lady Grace