WASHINGTON, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Thursday announced it has settled a multi-million-dollar case against Cargill, Inc.
The agriculture processing company was found in violation of the federal Clean Air Act, a Department of Justice press release said.
The EPA, along with 10 states and five other municipalities, lodged complaints in 2002 against two Cargill oilseed plants and in 2003 against nine corn mill plants.
The plants process corn, wheat, soybeans and oilseeds into products used for food and ethanol.
Cargill's corn plants produced carbon monoxide and compounds that polluted ground-level ozone, which can lead to health problems for those who live in the area.
The complaint claimed Cargill underestimated the emissions.
Cargill will now have to install devices to monitor and control pollution at all 27 of its corn and oilseed processing facilities. The equipment will cost the company an estimated $130 million.
A civil penalty of $1.6 million and $3.5 million for environmental projects will be split by the entities that brought the charges against Cargill.
