Wal-Mart will pay $1 million fine to resolve charges
By GINA HOLLAND, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (June 8, 5:26 a.m. CDT) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has agreed to pay a $1 million fine to resolve charges that it violated
environmental laws while building stores in four states.
The chain, which builds more than 300 stores a year, also agreed Thursday to better monitor future construction. The Environmental Protection
Agency said that could cost another $4.5 million.
"Those responsible for construction sites must control hazardous pollutants from flowing into drinking water sources and waterways," EPA
Administrator Christie Whitman said in a statement.
The EPA had accused Wal-Mart of violating the Clean Water Act and illegally discharging dirt from 17 construction sites in Massachusetts, New
Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
Wal-Mart spokesman Bill Wertz said the fine would be paid jointly by the company and contractors. He said the charges involved "paperwork
violations," not actual damage to the environment.
"No waterways or animal species were impacted," Wertz said from the company headquarters in Bentonville, Ark.
Water quality regulators monitor construction project runoff, which can carry pollutants into storm drains and sewer systems and eventually into
streams.
The fine, part of a settlement filed Thursday in federal court in Fayetteville, Ark., was the first enforcement of storm water regulations for
violations in multiple states, the Justice Department said.
"With this settlement, we are taking an important step to protect streams and lakes near construction sites," said John Cruden, acting assistant
attorney general of the Justice Department's environment division.
Wertz said the allegations involve just 17 of the hundreds of stores built from 1995-98. Wal-Mart will now require contractors to certify they
have drainage plans before starting construction. The company also will sample pollutants in storm water at some construction sites, reporting
findings to the EPA. |
