$700M Air Pollution Settlement

Two companies have agreed to a $700 million settlement of charges they violated the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday.

Archer Daniels Midland Co., the nation's biggest ethanol producer, and Alcoa Inc., the world's largest aluminum producer, agreed to upgrade some of their facilities to reduce more than 100,000 tons of air pollution, EPA officials confirmed.

The agreement affects 52 plants in 16 states operated by ADM, which is based in Decatur, Ill., and one plant in Rockdale, Texas, run by Alcoa, which is based in Pittsburgh, the officials said.

The agreement was to be announced later Wednesday by the EPA and the Justice Department as evidence that the agencies are upholding their obligations to enforce current environmental laws.

"These cases are a significant indication that enforcement continues aggressively at the agency," said EPA spokesman Joe Martyak, who declined to provide details of the agreement.