Multi-Million Dollar Penalty & Drought Support
Multi-Million Dollar Penalty & Drought Support. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.
On Friday the President held a video teleconference with governors of the Western States to discuss growing drought issues in the west. Deputy Secretary of the Interior, Mike Connor talks about the Departments Immediate Drought Response actions.
CONNER: We're marshaling every resource we have to provide meaningful relief and that starts really with the operation of our federal facilities. We operate those facilities in drought conditions to try and maximize supplies while at the same time maintaining compliance and protections for the environment. We're working in very close partnership with the state water departments and fish & wildlife agencies and we've had some success.
One of the Washington tree fruit industries largest producers has agreed to pay a fine of $2.25 million dollars for civil violations for the eligibility of workers. Broetje Orchards in Prescott is not admitting to doing anything wrong at the same time agreeing to pay the largest civil penalty in northwest history ever levied by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. Back in March 2012 an ICE audit showed that Broetje had almost 1700 illegal workers. ICE wanted a fine of $2.5 million plus an additional amount for the "aggravating factor" that employees had not been terminated after the notice but the amount was reduced.
That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network of the West.
