The Washington Attorney General filed 36 gross misdemeanor charges against Electron Hydro, LLC and its Chief Operating Officer, Thom A. Fischer. Electron Hydro operates a hydroelectric dam on the Puyallup River. Each of the 36 charges, filed in Pierce County Superior Court, are against both Fischer and the business. The charges include violations of the state’s Water Pollution Control Act, Shoreline Management Act, and Pierce County Code.
If convicted, Fischer faces a maximum penalty of 90 or 364 days in jail for each count, depending upon the charge. Additionally, Fischer faces fines of up to $1,000, $5,000, or $10,000 for each count, depending upon the charge. As a business entity, Electron Hydro faces a maximum penalty of $250,000 for each of the 36 counts.