OLYMPIA, Wash. – An environmental crime here in the Evergreen state has led to a record fine.

A Pierce County Court has ordered Electron Hydro and its Chief Operating Officer to pay $1 million in fines to help restore the Puyallup River.

The Washington AG’s office says the fine is a result of the company placing artificial turf in the river in 2020 while they were working on a hydroelectric dam.

The move allowed toxic debris to flow into the river for approximately ten days before state agencies ordered them to halt their work.

Charges against the company include violating the state’s Water Pollution Control Act and Wildlife Enforcement Codes.

$745,000 of the fine will go to the Puyallup Tribe, which operates a number of fish hatcheries in the river’s watershed.

The AG says the $1 million dollar fine is the largest in Washington state history.