By Madhuri Dey
Nov. 14, (THAINDIAN NEWS) According to the sources, Cargill Meat Solutions Corporations had to pay a fine of 200,000 dollars for violating the standards for using clean water in their meat processing factory. They also had to reach an administrative agreement with the United Environmental Protection Agency. The terms of the agreement state that the company will have to undertake certain measures to correct the flaws that are now present in it’s meat packing plant. They will be required to train their staff and upgrade the mechanics of the water treatment systems. They will also have to lay off some of their staff who have been held responsible for the incident and assign new workers in those positions.

The United State Attorney’s Office issued the statement that the company had obtained a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permit from Colorado that allowed it to discharge it’s waste water to the South Platte River after it had been treated. According to it, Cargill could discharge 2,874 pounds of suspended solids per day and 400 colonies of fecal coliform every 100 millilitre. Cargill violated the rule twice, once, when it discharged a total of 522 colonies of fecal coliform per 100 millilitre on a single day, and again when it discharged 4,332 pounds of suspended solids the next year, that too on one day.

Misdemeanor charges had been brought against the company for the violations of these rules. The company had pleaded guilty on account of the allegations brought against them. A federal court judge pronounced the company guilty and asked it to pay an additional 250 dollars special assessment to be paid to a fund for crime victims. The judge warned Cargill that it will face serious circumstances if the incident is repeated, including the right to several major federal contracts.