The state Department of Ecology on Friday fined Sound Transit $66,000 for water-quality violations connected to the mass transit agency's light-rail project under construction between Seattle and Tukwila.

Sound Transit was fined for releasing muddy water from the project into Tukwila-area streams.

The $66,000 fine was set based on 14 discharges that resulted in 26 violations this year and last. Ecologists also ordered Sound Transit to make changes to prevent future violations of the agency's stormwater permit.

Heavy silt from construction sites is harmful to salmon, ecologists said.

The "silt in the water can cause problems if there are any developing eggs in the stream, as well as if there are any fish present in the stream," said Kevin Fitzpatrick, a water quality section manager.

Sound Transit said it was working with the department to correct the problems.

"In the case of these particular violations, we've had serious discussions with our contractor and many of the corrections in the Ecology order have already been implemented," said Ahmad Fazel, light-rail director.

The penalty cited Sound Transit, which serves urban Pierce, King and Snohomish counties, for violations of the project's construction stormwater permit between August 2005 and June 2006. Sound Transit self-reported each of the discharges as required by its permit.

"We do place a high priority on our environmental compliance," said agency spokesman Geoff Patrick. "When issues like that come up, we are prompt and emphatic about communicating to our contractors that we want the issues addressed."

Each of the discharges contained more silt than the permit allows.

The silty water flowed off a work area directly to Gilliam Creek and the Duwamish River, or ditches or streams that drain into them.

The Department of Ecology's order gives Sound Transit 45 to 60 days to take several corrective actions.

Fitzpatrick said Sound Transit already is correcting problems, including "stepping up their training and coordination, and providing oversight for contractors," he said.

The penalty wasn't unusual, Fitzpatrick added.

"We've taken actions like this on a number of different construction sites throughout the state," he said.

Sound Transit is building a $2.4 billion, 15-mile light-rail line from Sea-Tac Airport to downtown Seattle, with service slated to begin in 2009.