The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced today a settlement resolving Clean Air Act claims by the United States and the states of Kansas and Louisiana against carbon black manufacturer Columbian Chemicals Company. Under the settlement, the company has agreed to install and operate state-of-the-art pollution control technologies to reduce emissions of harmful air pollutants. In addition to the controls, estimated to cost $94 million, Columbian will pay civil penalties of $650,000 and perform environmental mitigation projects valued at $375,000. This settlement resolves claims, asserted in a complaint filed today in federal court, that Columbian failed to obtain permits and install appropriate emissions reduction technology at its two carbon black production facilities located in Hickock, Kansas and North Bend, Louisiana, as required under the Prevention of Significant Deterioration provisions of the Clean Air Act.