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Dutch multinational fined for US pollution

Published on 8 February 2010 - 12:15pm
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Dutch multinational chemical company DSM is to pay an 800,000 dollar fine in the United States for environmental violations.

The payment is to resolve charges by the Environmental Protection Division in the state of Georgia that the company vastly underreported emissions of a toxic chemical. Between 2003 and 2006, DSM’s nylon plant in Augusta, Georgia, accidentally leaked the chemical cyclohexanol. The substance causes eye irritation and damages the ozone layer.

DSM reported a leak to the authorities itself, measuring the quantity at 500,000 kilos. However, later calculations revealed that ten times this amount had in fact been released.

DSM, which has its headquarters in the southern Dutch city of Heerlen, announced it would also be launching three new environmental projects in the United States and spending 1.2 million dollars on improved equipment to measure pollution.
 

  • DSM factory in Limburg, the Netherlands

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RNW - NEWS, ANALYSIS AND BACKGROUND IN 10 LANGUAGES, WORLDWIDE 24 HOURS A DAY, ON RADIO, TELEVISION AND THE INTERNET