U.S. Gypsum told to pay $44,000 pollution fine

1/21/2009

PORT CLINTON U.S. Gypsum Co. will pay a $44,000 fine for pollution caused by wastewater problems at its Ottawa County plant several miles east of Port Clinton, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency said yesterday.

The agency described the violations as chronic and said they were documented in multiple inspections over six years. The company has been in compliance since the fall of 2006, the state agency said.

U.S. Gypsum, which makes gypsum, joint tape, stucco, and other building products, discharges its wastewater to Lake Erie s Sandusky Bay.

The state EPA said the company has made a number of improvements to the facility and is required to complete others by Jan. 31, 2011.