CONCORD, N.H. (Legal Newsline) - New Hampshire Attorney General Michael A. Delaney has announced a settlement with a New Ipswich manufacturing company over violations of the state's air pollution and air toxics law and federal air pollution laws.

Warwick Mills, Inc., is alleged to have violated state air pollution and air toxics laws and federal air pollution laws through failure to comply with air pollution control requirements involving toluene, a hazardous air pollutant, and volatile organic compounds.

"Keeping New Hampshire's air quality high is an important part of our environmental protection efforts," Delaney said. "The State's environmental laws must be followed."

Warwick Mills manufactures custom high performance composites at its New Ipswich facility. The manufacturing process, beginning in 2006, included coating woven fabric and metal using various coating materials that contain hazardous air pollutants and volatile organic compounds.

The Department of Environmental Services discovered during a 2007 inspection and review of information submitted by Warwick Mills that the facility was exceeding emission limits in its permit. By exceeding those limits, Warwick Mills triggered several state and federal requirements that require emission controls, emission limitations and stack testing. Warwick Mills then modified its two boilers to control its emissions.

The settlement with Warwick Mills imposes a $114,454 civil penalty for the emissions, $31,908 of which will be paid to the state in cash. An additional $72.696 will be paid by Warwick Mills in the form of two supplemental environmental projects. Those projects will fund an environmental restoration project that will benefit the Town of New Ipswich.

Warwick Mills will also install a volatile organic compound capture system to further reduce emissions and the facility above and beyond regulatory requirements.

A $9,850 penalty against Warwick Mills will be permanently suspended if the company does not violate the settlement or state air pollution laws, air pollution laws or any condition of Warwick Mills' permit within two years of the entry of the settlement agreement.