State Offers Settlement To Mesquite Chemical Plant

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) – The state Environment Department has offered to settle allegations of air quality violations at a fertilizer factory in Mesquite for $270,600.

The state in November notified Helena Chemical of 15 violations at the company’s factory — including two labeled major. The department has offered to settle 11 violations, and has withdrawn the other four.

The Collierville, Tennessee-based company has 30 days to accept or decline the offer dated February 8th. Helena officials say the company believes the remaining violations are in record-keeping.

Helena’s director of regulatory compliance and engineering, Ed Brister, says the company’s operations have never posed a threat to human health or to the environment.

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