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WPS Fined $80K For Emissions Violation

The Attorney General's office has reached a judgment against Wisconsin Public Service because of violations of it's air pollution control permit.  The northeastern Wisconsin utility is being fined $80,000.

The civil complaint was filed in Marathon County Circuit Court.  DNR Air Management spokesperson Jeff Johnson talks about what happened this week.

"As part of our agreement with EPA, we refer violators to the Department of Justice and it's through that process that penalties can be assessed. It lays out the settlement of that case and the establishment of the financial penalty."

WPS admitted to the DNR that they had exceeded carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds emissions at the Weston 4 coal-fired power plant. Also, WPS had exceeded sulpher dioxide limits on eight days between July 2008 and April 2009. The complaint also says WPS operated the facility without required pollution control devices at times, which may have caused un regulated particulate emissions.

Johnson says the problem has been cleared up...

"All the violations were very short term, easily correctable, and they currently are in compliance."

The settlement was approved Wednesday by Marathon County Circuit Court Judge Jill Falstad.

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