Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 22, 1992 TAG: 9201220397
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
TWO FINES CAN'T BE PUT IN PERSPECTIVE
WALTER WINKLE'S fine and the Hercules fine: Is there some way to put these in perspective?Mr. Winkle, a dairy farmer in Montgomery County, made a mistake. He repiped a manure tank, which resulted in a spill killing approximately 191,000 fish.
Reported killed were trout, bass, and let's not forget the Roanoke logperch and the yellow-fin madtom. What happened to the trash fish, such as suckers, hornyheads, carp, etc.? Since a count was made that cost $5,000, it would seem the taxpayers should know just how many were trash fish. The count might not have been worth $5,000.
Charles Stitzer, enforcement specialist for the state Water Control Board, said the creek is not fouled. Good: This means there is still food on the creek bottom, and in another month or two there will be food above water in abundance.
Since there is a trout-stocking program in Virginia, these can be put back in a matter of weeks instead of waiting years for the fish to work back upstream. In short, the fish will be back. Mr. Winkle might not. He is being fined $50,000 for the incident and may lose his farm.
Hercules Inc. is a subcontractor to the U.S. government. It has been cited for violations of safety standards in the death of two employees. At first a fine of $9,350 was imposed. Since then, because of Hercules' showing good faith, the fine was reduced to $6,000.
Again: Mr. Winkle's incident killed 191,000 fish - fine $50,000. Hercules, for serious violations, drew a fine of $6,000.
You cannot put these two fines into perspective. Mr. Winkle's fine will come out of his pocket. Hercules' fine will come out of our pockets. In other words, one government agency paying another.
It seems that people's lives are cheaper than fish! WILLIAM S. PORTERFIELD ROANOKE