A rundown on penalties

A contrast in fines and fees, and the trail of publicity they generate, surfaced this week in the run of news. One dealt with a couple of small fines here and the other dealt with a large fine, one of the largest on record, which really turns out not to be a fine.

Monday the Washington State Department of Ecology posted a list of companies which had been penalized in the first quarter due to "non-compliance." The report notes Ecology works with thousands of businesses and individuals to help them comply with state law.

The penalties are issued in cases where non-compliance continues.

Listed we...