Clean Air Act Violations Force Shut Down of Sulfuric Acid Plant, Cos. Pay 2M Penalty
April 20, 2009 Kyriaki (Sandy) Venetis 
Graphic by Speedysigns.com
WASHINGTON,D.C.- DuPont and Lucite International, Inc. have agreed to pay a $2 million civil penalty to settle Clean Air Act violations at a sulfuric acid plant in Belle, W. Va., according to a joint announcement made today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the state of West Virginia.
The sulfuric acid plant is located on a 100-acre chemical manufacturing complex along the Kanawha River. The plant is owned by Lucite and operated by DuPont. The companies will pay $1 million to the United States and $1 million to the state of West Virginia.
In addition, the companies chose, on their own, to shut down the sulfuric-acid manufacturing unit of a larger chemical facility at the site. The settlement confirms the agreement that the sulfuric acid unit is scheduled to shut down by April 1, 2010.
EPA, pollution | tagged Dupont, EPA, Lucite International, U.S. Department of Justice, West Virginia, sulfuric acid plant