WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- ConocoPhillips agreed to reimburse the U.S. government more than $4.5 million to settle claims for natural resource damages in Louisiana, the EPA said.
ConocoPhillips agreed with its affiliates at Sasol North America to reimburse the EPA Superfund with more than $4.5 million and complete a $10 million cleanup operation at the Calcasieu Estuary in southern Louisiana.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said heavy industrial activity in the area was responsible for "industrial discharges" into area waters.
Both companies under the terms of an agreement with the U.S. Justice Department and the EPA agree to share the coast of natural resource damage assessments and perform restoration projects in coordination with state and federal authorities.
Al Armendariz, the regional director for the EPA, said the fine was indicative of the importance of forcing polluters to pay for clean-up operations.
"Recovering more than $4.5 million is another milestone in our on-going work to address historical pollution problems in this area of Louisiana," he said in a statement.
