CHICAGO (AP) -- Paint thickener and paper chemicals maker Hercules Inc. on Tuesday agreed to pay a $22,500 penalty as part of a settlement with the Environmental Protection Agency for clean-air violations at one of the company's chemical plants in Wisconsin.
The EPA alleged that Wilmington, Del.-based Hercules failed to comply with regulations at its Milwaukee, Wis., facility to control leaks of hazardous air pollutants from its equipment. The agency said it found an uncapped open-ended line, and Hercules had delayed repair on another.
Since then, Hercules has met these requirements and improved its leak-management system, the EPA said.
John Riley, a Hercules spokesman, said the company cooperated with the EPA and is satisfied with the agreement reached with the agency.
Shares fell 46 cents, or 2.2 percent, to $20.09 in midday trading.