King America Finishing, Inc., a textiles treatment plant in Screven County, was found in violation of its discharge permits and will fund $1 million in environmental improvements to the Ogeechee River.
      The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) executed a consent order Wednesday to "address violations of the Georgia Water Quality Control Act that were discovered during EPD's investigation of the fish kill on the Ogeechee River that occurred in May of this year," according to a release from EPD officials.
      The investigation revealed the company "added a fire retardant treatment process that generated wastewater, which was ultimately discharged to the Ogeechee River in violation of their permit," according to the release.
      King America ceased the discharge once the discovery was found, according to the release. EPD officials have been working with King America to "upgrade the wastewater treatment plant, expand the monitoring program and restrict the hours that the fire retardant process is allowed to discharge."
      If necessary, further action will be taken to ensure the river is kept safe, EPD officials said.
      Further details will be available in Thursday's Statesboro Herald and online at www.statesboroherald.com