Two environmental groups are threatening to sue the Alcoa plant in Warrick County for allegedly dumping illegal amounts of mercury into the Ohio River. WNIN’s John Gibson reports:
The Sierra Club and the Environmental Integrity Project sent a notice of intent to sue the aluminum smelter for what they call “repeated violations of the Clean Water Act.”
The 63-year-old Alcoa plant was highlighted in a recent report by the Environmental Integrity Project as the aluminum industry’s worst violator of water pollution laws in the U.S.
The groups note aluminum is vital for a clean energy future, but plants that produce the light-weight and durable metal have failed to invest in modern pollution controls.
In a statement, Alcoa says it’s “committed to operating in compliance with all applicable legal requirements.”
The company says it consistently works with regulatory authorities in a “transparent manner.”