Reader questions punishment for dangerous emissions

I find it quite interesting that McCain Foods in Othello was fined $40,000 by the Washington Dept. of Ecology for emission violations - they emitted dust and smoke (CBH article dated June 19).

Yet, REC had an emission problem on June 15 as reported in CBH on June 18;  and, in the same article, WA. Dept. of Ecology was not listed as one of the 8 agencies responding to the emissions problem at REC. Call your city council person and/or your Grant County Commissioner and ask why Dept. of Ecology has not been involved. McCain Foods had only emitted dust and smoke! What will the fine for REC be for emitting silicon tetrachloride/trichlorosilane which reacted with atmospheric moisture to form silicon dioxide and hydrochloric acid? It sounds a little more serious than dust and smoke!

Gary F. Craig

Moses Lake, WA