Anchor Glass Container Corp. has agreed to install pollution controls to bring six manufacturing facilities into compliance with Clean Air Act requirements in a proposed settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

 

Anchor, headquartered in Tampa, Florida, will spend approximately 40 million USD to implement pollution reduction changes at all six of its container glass manufacturing facilities. The company will install controls to cut emissions of nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide and particulate matter. Also as part of the settlement, Anchor will pay a 1.1 million USD civil penalty.

 

The company's plants are located in Florida, New York, Oklahoma, Indiana, Minnesota and Georgia.

 

In a statement, Anchor said it was pleased to reach an agreement in the case to resolve the claims.

 

The statement said, "While Anchor Glass disputes the allegations, it has agreed to settle. Anchor Glass recognizes its responsibilities to the environment and the communities in which it operates. It is Anchor’s corporate policy to comply with applicable local, state and federal environmental laws."

 

The settlement resolves allegations that Anchor violated the Clean Air Act when it failed to seek permits for major modifications at the plants.

 

The proposed consent decree was filed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida and is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval.

 

In addition to federal regulators, the states of Indiana and Oklahoma participated in the settlement.