FERNDALE, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A former aluminum smelter near Ferndale is facing a lawsuit for violating air quality standards.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed the suit on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) against Alcoa’s Intalco Aluminum plant on July 18 in the U.S. District Court in Seattle. The DOJ claims Intalco exceeded the emissions limits set by the Clean Air Act every day between Sept. 2019 and Aug. 2020.

It cites EPA inspections from Nov. 2019 that found a wide range of safety hazards, including visible emissions leaking from several different sources. Intalco is also accused of routing emissions directly into the surrounding air every day from Nov. 2017 through Dec. 2019 because of poorly maintained equipment.

The lawsuit states that Intalco could face fines of up to $109,000 per day for each violation.

Alcoa announced in March 2023 that the smelter would officially close after standing idle since 2020.