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Hercules To Pay $22,500 EPA Settlement

Paint thickener and paper chemicals maker agreed to pay a penalty as part of a settlement with the EPA for clean-air violations at a chemical plant in Wisconsin.

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.

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