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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Idaho group backtracks on plastic bag maker accusations

Associated Press

BOISE – An Idaho environmental group that accused a nationwide plastic bag producer of violating federal laws on reporting toxic waste says it made a mistake.

The Idaho Conservation League in a joint statement Monday with Novolex says that after reviewing information it now understands that a facility operated by the company in Jerome in south-central Idaho is in compliance.

The group last week announced its intent to file a lawsuit amid concerns Novolex hadn’t filed information with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s toxic-release inventory database.

The group’s Austin Hopkins says the group now has full confidence that all of Novolex’s facilities are in compliance.

Phil Rozenski of Novolex says the environmental group’s inaccurate initial claims are regrettable but the two entities share basic beliefs about protecting the health of communities.