Asarco Fines, Costs Exceed $56 Million

Asarco Inc. will spend more than $56 million in penalties and clean-up costs to settle federal charges that the company illegally discharged toxic materials at plants in Montana and Arizona.

In an agreement with the U.S. Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency, the New York-based mining company also agreed to establish a court-enforced environmental management system at all 38 Asarco facilities in the U.S.

The government charged that Asarco’s East Helena, Mont., facility illegally discharged industrial wastewater into a process pond that fed into a nearby creek. The company also illegally stored, treated and disposed of toxic heavy metals, possibly contaminating soil and groundwater, the Justice Department alleged.

The Arizona case involves charges, lodged by U.S. and state officials, that Asarco illegally discharged toxic metals at a facility near Kelvin. The complaint also charges that the company failed to properly contain wastewater run-off and violated state surface water quality standards.

The settlement includes $6.38 million in penalties and more than $50 million in estimated clean-up and compliance costs.

A spokesman for Asarco could not be reached for comment.