An $8,000 fine leveled at Richland, WA-based Ben Franklin Transit by the Washington State Department of Ecology will be challenged by the agency. According to the Tri-City Herald, Ben Franklin is accused of violating Washington’s storm water pollution regulations. 
It’s alleged that the transit agency allowed vehicle wash water to flow into a storm drain, failed to perform a mandatory sampling of storm water runoff, and failed to cover old batteries to keep pollutants from seeping onto the ground. Ben Franklin officials are requesting another party to review the findings.
The state’s Department of Ecology is cracking down on violators. The fine against Ben Franklin was part of more than $117,000 in fines issued statewide. The Ben Franklin fine was imposed in the last quarter of 2011.
The subject of green bus washing is featured in this month’s BUSRide. To read Jack Jackson’s story, visit: https://busride.com/2012/02/environmental-impact-and-green-focus-on-bus-washing.