Pollution Suit Will Reportedly Be Settled for $4.6 Billion

Oct 09, 04:51 AM

Current Headlines: By Lara Jakes Jordan

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON - One of the nation's largest power generators has agreed to end a years-long federal lawsuit by paying $4.6 billion to reduce pollution that has eaten away at Northeast mountain ranges and national landmarks, The Associated Press has learned.

The settlement requires American Electric Power, based in Columbus, Ohio, to reduce chemical emissions that cause acid rain by at least 69 percent over the next decade.

It also fines AEP an additional $15 million in civil penalties and another $60 million in cleanup and mitigation costs to help heal parkland and waterways that have been hurt by the pollution.

Details of the agreement were provided by two people familiar with its terms.

In an interview late Monday night, AEP spokesman Pat Hemlepp confirmed the energy company had agreed to settle, but he said it planned to spend only $1.6billion in improvements under the terms of the settlement.

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