SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - The John Morrell & Co. meatpacking
plant in Sioux Falls has agreed to pay a $44,000 fine for polluting
the Big Sioux River.
The company agreed to the civil penalty settlement on Friday with the
state Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The
sanctions cover dozens of effluent violations since 2008. In early
2010, the plant was discharging three times the permitted amount of
ammonia into the river.
On Thursday, the company was sued in federal court for
violations uncovered during an inspection of the hog
slaughterhouse.
The newspaper reports that the alleged violations are the latest
signs that the company has been struggling to keep the century-old
plant in compliance with environmental rules despite spending
millions to upgrade its infrastructure.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-10-10-11 0808EDT
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