by Jim Robison, 4/23/2008

The Oregonian reported today that "Kinder Morgan Bulk Terminals Inc. said this week that a former employee improperly arranged to dump potash -- also known as potassium chloride -- into the Pacific in August 2003. The company said the material, sometimes used as fertilizer, became wet and lost its commercial value. The U.S. Attorney's Oregon office said a ship called the J/A Aladdin Dream dumped the material, and that Kinder Morgan saved $78,000 in landfill costs by disposing of the potash at sea.  As part of the deal, Kinder Morgan and federal prosecutors agreed that the dumping caused no environmental damage, that the former employee's actions violated company policy, and that no Kinder Morgan personnel outside the terminal had knowledge of the incident."

"Pending final settlement, Kinder Morgan said it will plead guilty to a criminal violation of the Ocean Dumping Act, pay a $175,000 federal fine and pay $65,000 to the Oregon Governor's Fund for the Environment."

The dumping was first brought to the attention of the Portland Harbor Community Advisory Group by local longshoreman Jerry Cressa.  Jerry has been diligent to follow through with state and federal authorities in hopes of ensuring that this kind of dumping can be prevented from recurring.  Jerry is quoted in The Oregonian story:  "'The whole issue was not about fining Kinder Morgan. It's all the people involved,' Cressa said. The dumping could have been stopped if Kinder Morgan personnel at the terminal had acted, he said, and the five-year investigation of the incident would have moved faster with more aggressive prosecutors and stricter environmental oversight by state and federal agencies, he said."

Another issue regarding Kinder Morgan previously raised at the Portland Harbor Community Advisory Group is the mishandling of soda ash transported by train, and loaded onto ships at Terminal 4.  The Oregonian story reported "In 2005, Kinder Morgan agreed to spend up to $75,000 to prevent stormwater discharge and settle a civil suit alleging the company had allowed potentially hazardous soda ash to wash into the Willamette River, where it could harm fish."

While soda ash is not a hazardous chemical, it can change the ph balance of the water, which can effect the health of fish and other life in the river.

See the full Oregonian article at http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/12...