"Power Firm Held Liable for 8,684 Violations"

"The operator of an Indiana County coal-fired power plant is liable for more than 8,600 violations of the Clean Water Act that polluted the Conemaugh River with metal discharges, a federal judge ruled, which would lead to a maximum civil penalty of more than $300 million.

Magistrate Judge Robert C. Mitchell in Pittsburgh has yet to determine how much GenOn Northeast Management Co., a unit of GenOn Energy Inc. of Houston, should pay in damages.

But one of the environmentalists who sued the company said the likely outcome is that GenOn will attempt to settle the lawsuit before the judge imposes a penalty.

PennEnvironment Executive Director David Masur estimated Tuesday that the maximum civil penalty would exceed $300 million."

Chris Foreman reports for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review March 23, 2011.