Forks resident faces stiff fine for burning logging vehicle
By Tom Callis, Peninsula Daily News
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Jerry Leppell burned what was likely a dismantled Link-Belt timber loader on Tuesday at his vacant 8-acre parcel at 9999 Fern Hill Road, said Rita Cirulis, clean air agency inspector for Clallam and Jefferson counties.
Cirulis said she had informed Leppell of the violation, but that the amount of the fine — which could be as much $14,915 — had yet to be determined on Wednesday.
Leppell did not return a phone call requesting comment.
The amount of the fine will be determined 30 days after Leppell receives the notice of violation, as long as he doesn't file an appeal, Cirulis said.
Neither Cirulis nor Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict have received other reports of dismantling and burning vehicles.
But though it's an isolated incident, "it's probably a safe bet" to say that similar incidents will occur now that the price of scrap material has skyrocketed, Benedict said.
Mike McGuire, Alpine Auto Wrecking manager, said a quarter-inch thick of steel less than 4-feet in length from a logging vehicle could sell for $380 at a metal recycling operation.
The price for the same material in April would have gone for about $100, he said.
Notice to be mailed
Cirulis said the notice of violation was sent to the clean air agency's Olympia office on Wednesday, and will be mailed to Leppell within a few business days.
"It was evident that materials such as rubber hoses, metal and paint were being burned," which is illegal, she said.
"It's a health concern to anyone living nearby."
Cirulis said her office in Port Angeles received reports of large, black plumes of smoke from the property on July 18.
She visited the property that same day and noticed some blackened pieces of metal, but couldn't confirm a violation had occurred.
Cirulis said Leppell will be cited for one violation, since other reports of burning couldn't be substantiated.
An unique incident
Cirulis said Leppell was likely dismantling the vehicle to sell for scrap.
McGuire said the recent price jump for scrap metal is due to more demand for steel in Asia.
The increase in price for scrap metal has led to a boom in the market, he said.
He estimated that competition for the scrap material has increased by more than 400 percent in the last year.
The closest metal recycling operation that can handle scrap from a logging vehicle is Navy City Metals in Bremerton, he said.
Cirulis said the incident was unique in her four years with the agency.
"We get all sorts of surprises in this line of work," she said.
"Dismantling a vehicle and not making any effort to put out the fire" is one of them.
Need a license
Tony Polizzi, Clallam County code enforcement officer, said dismantling junk vehicles to sell for scrap as a commercial operation without the proper licensing is illegal.
Forks Police Chief Mike Powell said the city can't determine if any land-use violations have occurred.
Powell said the Forks Police Department will review the clean air agency's report, and will conduct a follow-up investigation to see if Leppell has violated any city ordinances.
Polizzi said that people dismantling junk vehicles on their properties should ensure that liquids such as motor oil and anti-freeze are properly handled.
Motor oil and anti-freeze can be disposed of at the Regional Transfer Station at 3501 W. 18th St. in Port Angeles.
Soil contamination can bring fines from the state Department of Ecology.
Junk vehicles
But just having junk vehicles is a concern, Polizzi said, because they pose safety hazards, including the threat of hazardous materials leaking into the soil.
An ordinance prohibiting junk vehicles outside of a contained structure has been in effect in Clallam County since April 2007.
About 1,500 junk vehicles were removed from about 250 locations in 2007.
Polizzi estimates that this year, the county has investigated about 200 reports of junk vehicles.
The county defines a junk vehicle as being at least three years in age, extensively damaged, inoperable, and worth only the value of its scrap material.
The ordinance doesn't apply to vehicles registered as classic cars, or to vehicles being rebuilt.
Fines can reach $100 per day per violation, but Polizzi said the county's main goal is compliance.
"The fines are for when other things don't work," he said.
A property owner in violation of the ordinance will be told to have the vehicle towed to a junk yard, Polizzi said.
Code enforcement officers will help those who lack titles for junk cars through the state Department of Licensing process so they can have the vehicles towed to a junk yard and come into compliance with the law, he said.
Last modified: August 06. 2008 9:00PM