Hawesville aluminum plant agrees to penalty over air pollution

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Georgia company has agreed to pay $337,500 for violating air pollution laws at its Hawesville aluminum processing plant. The U.S. Justice Department, Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet and Southwire Co., based in Carrollton, Ga., filed the settlement in U.S. District Court today. Kentucky and the federal government will evenly split the penalty. The company admitted to at least two violations of the Clean Air Act in 2006, by putting too many pollutants into the air from its Hawesville facility. The settlement states the company returned to compliance with the law in January.