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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Honeywell agrees to pay $6 million to settle pollution claims

Terry Goddard (D)

PHOENIX, Ariz. (Legal Newsline)-Honeywell International Inc. will pay $6 million to settle claims it broke water-quality and hazardous-waste laws at its facility near Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix over the past three decades, state Attorney General Terry Goddard said.

Officials alleged that Morris Township, N.J.-based Honeywell released a bevy of chemicals, including jet fuel and vinyl chloride, into the city's sewer system from 1974 to 2004 without a permit.

Pollutants also allegedly leaked into the groundwater, contributing to a subterranean pollution plume that stretches 7 miles across Phoenix.

The settlement requires Honeywell to pay a $5 million fine and contribute $1 million to an air-quality cleanup project.

"Arizona's environmental laws provide crucial protections for the health and well-being of our families, communities and natural resources," Goddard said in a statement. "Following those laws is part of doing business in Arizona. Anything less will not be tolerated."

Honeywell denies any liability for the claims made by officials.

"We are committed to remaining a valuable member of the community and to ensuring continued compliance with all environmental regulations," the company said in a statement.

The settlement, announced Thursday, stems from a lawsuit filed by the state in July 2004.

The suit alleged that Honeywell violated the Arizona Water Quality Control Act, Arizona Hazardous Waste Disposal Act and Arizona Underground Storage Tank Act.

Last month, Honeywell agreed to pay penalties of more than $3 million to Maricopa County to settle air-quality-related claims.

From Legal Newsline: Reach reporter Chris Rizo at chrisrizo@legalnewsline.com.

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