Lincoln. Neb.-ConAgra Foods Inc. has agreed to pay a $40,000 civil penalty and donate another $40,000 to an environmental project to resolve issues stemming from an accidental spill of 3,800 gallons of liquid nitrogen fertilizer from a railcar at the company’s Hastings, Neb., plant in January 2006, according to an announcement by Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning. Bruning said the fine will go to the Nebraska Common Schools Fund, and half the amount will be waived if ConAgra maintains compliance with a Department of Environmental Quality consent decree for 180 days. The donation will go to the Attorney General’s Environmental Protection Fund. “Nebraska’s environment must be protected,” Bruning remarked. “We appreciate ConAgra’s quick response in cleaning up the spill.” He noted that ConAgra responded immediately to the spill, provided notification to both the NDEQ and EPA, and worked quickly to contain the spill and minimize environmental impact.
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