A pair of environmental groups is intervening in the state of Indiana’s lawsuit against Alcoa’s Warrick Operations. WNIN’s John Gibson has details:
The Sierra Club and Environmental Integrity Project filed a motion Wednesday to intervene in the suit against the aluminum plant for violations of clean water laws.
The groups say they’re taking the action to “finally end Alcoa’s pollution of the Ohio River with toxics like mercury and to ensure that the company will be held accountable for its 100+ permit violations over the last two years.”
The groups the Alcoa smelter has continued to pollute the river and violate its permit since the Sierra Club and EIP filed their notice in November.
The company has said it’s committed to operating in compliance with all legal requirements.
Alcoa has also said it’s working with regulatory authorities in a “transparent manner.”
The Sierra Club says its interests are distinct from the interest of IDEM, the state agency that has sued Alcoa.
The Club says it wants more specifics and has requested that the court assess penalties of $25,000 per day per violation.