HARRISBURG, Va. (Legal Newsline) — The Department of Justice, the Department of the Interior and the Commonwealth of Virginia announced Dec. 15 a proposed settlement with DuPont valued at an estimated $50 million.
The agreement resolves claims stemming from the alleged release of mercury from the former E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (DuPont) facility in Waynesboro, Virginia.
“This remarkable settlement will help restore the precious natural resources of the South Fork Shenandoah watershed, bringing lasting benefits for future generations of Virginians to enjoy,” said assistant attorney general John C. Cruden for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.
DuPont will pay a $42 million cash penalty and spend up to $10 million on the design and implementation of renovations at the Front Royal Fish Hatchery.
“Today’s settlement, the largest of its kind in Virginia history, is the culmination of a coordinated effort by countless partners at both the state and federal level,” said Gov. Terry McAuliffe. “Thanks to their hard work, Virginians and the environment will benefit from unprecedented investments in land conservation and habitat restoration.”