011018 IBP Inc. Settles With Justice Dept.October 13, 2001IBP Inc. will spend more than $14 million in penalties and improvements to settle a lawsuit filed over alleged environmental violations at its Dakota City, Neb., plant. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency filed the lawsuit in January 2000 against IBP, accusing the meatpacking giant of polluting the air and water surrounding its 200-acre Dakota City plant. As part of the settlement announced Friday, IBP agreed to spend $10 million to construct additional wastewater treatment systems to efficiently reduce its discharges of ammonia into the Missouri River. The company also has agreed to continue and expand operational improvements ordered last year that will significantly reduce hydrogen sulfur air emissions, officials said. IBP, based in Dakota Dunes, S.D., also will pay penalties of $2.25 million to the EPA and $1.85 million to the state of Nebraska. In return, the EPA dropped its lawsuit against the company and its claims of environmental violations by the company. The settlement was not an admission of wrongdoing, IBP said. "While we still don't agree with the nature and extent of the claims made in the federal government's lawsuit, we're glad that we were able to come to an agreement that allows us to put this matter behind us," William Tolle, IBP assistant vice president for environmental affairs said. IBP said the settlement also resolves water quality issues at former IBP facilities in Gibbon and at Palestine, Texas, where it said improvements were completed before the settlement was reached. IBP, the nation's biggest beef processor, was bought by Springdale, Ark.-based Tyson Foods Inc. in a $3.2 billion deal that closed last month.
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