Copper Firm Accused of Toxic Waste Violations
The government filed suit Friday charging Cerro Copper Products Co. of Sauget, Ill., with massive violations of the Clean Water Act in the discharge of toxic waste water that allegedly has polluted the Mississippi River.
An Environmental Protection Agency spokeswoman said the maximum penalties sought exceed $500 million.
The Justice Department suit also sought a court injunction to halt the discharges. The suit charged that the copper processing facility has flouted three EPA regulations, dating from 1984, requiring pre-treatment of its discharges of copper, chromium, lead, nickel, zinc and total toxic organics.
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