Companies to pay for air violations at Wis. plant

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Two companies have agreed to pay a $280,000 civil penalty and spend $500,000 on an environmental project to resolve alleged air violations at a Wisconsin plant.

The Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday the penalties against North Carolina-based Coltec Industries Inc. and California-based National Steel and Shipbuilding Co.

Coltec allegedly violated the Clean Air Act by manufacturing and selling 32 marine diesel engines that had not been certified as passing EPA standards at its Beloit plant. National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. allegedly violated the same law by installing those engines in ships they built and sold to the U.S. Navy.

Under the agreement, special labels will be placed on the engines, which will be treated as if they were originally certified.

The $500,000 will be used to install an air test and system in the Beloit facility that will reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 85 percent.