City Faces Fine

The Department of Justice, the US Environmental Protection Agency and the state of Indiana announced a settlement that requires the City of Anderson, IN, to spend millions to improve the city's sewer system and wastewater treatment plant and to pay a $250,000 fine. Justice officials said that the settlement resolves a lawsuit alleging multiple clean water violations by the city.

Federal environmental regulators said the settlement with the city complements an earlier settlement relating to a massive fish kill in the White River. Guide Corp. caused that fish kill by discharging toxic pollutants from its automotive parts production facility in Anderson through the city's sewer system. As part of a June 2001 settlement with the United States and the state of Indiana, Guide agreed to pay $6 million for fish restocking and other restoration projects in and along the White River. The river restoration work being funded by that settlement is ongoing.

Under the settlement, Anderson will take immediate action to optimize the operation of its existing sewer system and wastewater treatment plant. Anderson also commits to prepare a plan for sewer system and treatment plant improvements to control sewage discharge on a long-term basis, and to construct whatever improvements are needed. EPA believes that improvements such as increased wastewater storage or treatment capacity will probably be required, and may ultimately cost more than $20 million. The city will also adopt a tighter program to manage industrial wastewater discharges to its sewer system, as part of the settlement.