Shortly after receiving a revised stormwater permit, the Port of Seattle and its contractor have been fined for an accidental spill into Miller Creek.

The state Department of Ecology responded with a $9,000 fine against the Port, operators of Sea-Tac International Airport, and TTI Constructors LLC for the Sept. 12 water quality violation.

TTI consists of three construction firms that banded together to work on the massive third-runway dirt-hauling project.

While moving a temporary drainage pipeline, a crew accidentally spilled about 7,000 gallons of muddy water into a wetland, Ecology officials reported.

About 3,000 gallons of the turbid water flowed into Miller Creek.

According to the fine notice, on the morning of Sept. 12 workers for TTI, the prime construction contractor on the third runway embankment project, began removing pipes connecting Pond "A" to the "G" ponds.

The dismantled pipe was segmented. It was one of several pipes used to pump water between the ponds.

With the "G" ponds at a higher level, a backflow preventer was installed on each pipe.

But at approximately 10 a.m., "due in part to a lack of communication," the section of pipe with the backflow preventer was removed, allowing the muddy water to drain back out of the pipe and into the wetland and Miller Creek.

Ecology spokesman Larry Altose emphasized there was no permanent damage to the creek.

He reported that Port and contractor officials took responsibility for the violation and crews reacted quickly to minimize the effects by trying to recover the spilled water.

"We cannot stress enough that the Port is doing an exemplary job overall protecting water quality on this project," Altose declared.

"Port and contractor staffs have shown a strong commitment at all levels to keep the creeks around the site clear and clean."

He noted that it is difficult on major land construction jobs to manage open dirt given the amount of rain the area receives.

"This is larger than most large projects," Altose added.

Normandy Park city officials also expressed satisfaction with the Port's efforts in notifying them of the spill.

"They did notify us in a timely manner," Normandy Park Mayor John Wiltse noted.

The Port also quickly contacted the city about another spill on Nov. 4, and moved rapidly to clean it up, Wiltse added.

Councilman Stuart Creighton, who along with Councilman George Hadley form a committee that monitors environmental compliance for the creeks, said he received an e-mail from Port officials.

Larry Corvari, chairman of the Regional Commission on Airport Affairs (RCAA), praised the Ecology department for holding the Port accountable.

The RCAA is a private group that opposed the third runway project and advocates locating a site for a second regional airport.

Brett Fish, chairman of Citizens Against Sea-Tac Expansion (CASE), had not heard about the September spill but said he was concerned about a surge of muddy water that appeared in Miller Creek on Oct. 23.

He said he filmed suds and dead fish in the creek. Fish reported that Port officials said they did not know of any problems on that date.

CASE is monitoring the third runway project.

The Port and TTI could appeal the Ecology fine.

However, Port Commissioner Pat Davis said just before appearing at a Nov. 2 CASE campaign forum, "Why would we appeal? It was an accident, but it did happen."

The Port and TTI were fined $15,000 last year after a pipeline weld broke on Oct. 8, causing muddy water to flow into Miller Creek.

At the same time, Ecology cited the Port and TTI for ongoing problems with trucks tracking dirt on area highways.

Altose is now praising TTI for its innovation in devising a new way to wash the trucks featuring heftier spray.

The latest fine came shortly after Ecology issued a revised stormwater permit that Port staffers said would provide the highest-ever environmental protection for streams near the airport.

Instead of pursuing further appeals of the permit, the Port, CASE and RCAA cooperated in reaching an agreement on key changes in August.

"We applaud this leap forward," Kevin Fitzpatrick, an Ecology water quality manager, declared.

The permit covers all stormwater runoff at the airport including the third runway project, general runoff from roads and roofs, and treatment of airplane de-icing compounds.

The Port is building a pipeline to the county's wastewater treatment plant in Renton to handle busy de-icing periods.

De-icing discharges to Puget Sound will be reduced by 98 percent under the new permit restrictions, according to the Port.

The permit also designates Lake Reba as a natural water body subject to state water-quality standards.