Louisiana-Pacific to Pay Pollution Fines

Louisiana-Pacific Corp. pleaded guilty to pollution violations and agreed to pay $37 million in penalties, including the biggest criminal fine in the 28-year history of the Clean Air Act. The Portland, Ore.-based timber company was fined $5.5 million under the act for higher-than-allowed emissions from a plant in Colorado that makes floorboards and siding. It was fined an additional $31 million for offenses such as doctoring reports, tampering with pollution-monitoring equipment and lying to inspectors. U.S. District Judge Lewis Babcock in Denver also placed the company on probation for five years. Louisiana-Pacific will also donate $500,000 to environmental groups under the agreement. The company said it will take a $14-million charge, or 13 cents per share, against its earnings for its second quarter ending June 30, to cover costs of the agreement. It will pay the $37 million over five years.