South Sound bloggers were abuzz recently about the possible demise of Commencement Bay Coffee Co., the coffee shop and former roasterie at 2354 Jefferson Ave. in Tacoma.

Seems the owner, Keith Prichard, has been ordered by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency to pay a civil penalty of $8,730 – which is down from an original penalty of $13,878 – assessed because Prichard continued to roast coffee without proper attention to mitigation. He had been told to use an “after-burner” that incinerates particulates that could, and did, rise into the air.

“I’ve had a problem with them for over three years,” Prichard said. (“Them” is the clean air agency.) “I feel I’ve been unfairly fined for the whole affair. They say I need to send a check, or we’ll go to court. I’m at the point, if they pursue that, I’ll have to close.”

Jim Nolan, director of compliance at the agency, said that Prichard installed the roaster without a permit and without an air pollution control device.

After an initial confrontation, the agency changed its regulations to allow roasters the unmitigated roasting of 10 pounds or less per batch. Prichard was roasting 30.

The agency offered Prichard three options: control the pollution; get a smaller roaster; or contract with another roaster who complies with the law. Prichard now buys his roasted coffee from Martin Henry Coffee Rosters of Puyallup.

“He continued to run until we caught him in January 2007,” Nolan said. “He had made no progress, and continued to roast. Our view was that he was trying to ignore the issue. The penalty was for operating past the due date.”

“I was waiting for them to come and talk to me,” said Prichard, in his defense.

“Then he had the right to appeal, which he never did,” Nolan said. “We’ve been trying to work with him. His time for appeal went out. We sent him a form letter, an order of civil penalty. We’re always willing to talk to him about a settlement. If he’d like to engage with us, we’re willing to talk about a settlement. If he does nothing, eventually we’ll file a lawsuit.”

“I’ll talk to them,” said Prichard. “I want them to leave me alone.”

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