EPA, ABBOTT REACH AGREEMENT ON ALLEGED VIOLATIONS

Abbott Laboratories and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have agreed to settle alleged clean air violations at one of the company's manufacturing plants.

Under the agreement, Abbott will implement two environmental projects costing a total of $418,300 and pay a $57,372 penalty. The deal settles EPA allegations that Abbott failed to comply with leak detection and repair requirements for its hazardous air pollutants facility in the Chicago suburb of North Chicago, Ill., the agency said.

The alleged violations were discovered during an EPA inspection in June 2004 and from its review of a July 2004 information request, the agency said.

"Abbott has agreed to implement an enhanced leak detection and repair program that will cut hazardous air pollutant emissions and help protect the health of its neighbors," said Bharat Mathur, deputy regional administrator at the EPA. The company also will reduce vehicle pollution by replacing 27 of its sales vehicles with hybrid vehicles, Mathur added.

Abbott is very concerned about protecting the environment and is "constantly monitoring for compliance" of EPA standards, said a company spokesman.