FERNDALE, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The shuttered aluminum smelter near Ferndale has reached a quick settlement with government agencies over air quality violations in its last years of operation.

Intalco Aluminum has agreed to pay a $5 million penalty to settle a lawsuit brought by the EPA and U.S. Department of Justice.

An EPA inspection found the company had repeatedly violated the Clean Air Act from 2017 until it was idled in 2020.

It also failed to comply with monitoring, workplace safety, record keeping and reporting requirements.

The agency says pollutant emissions endangered the nearby community.

Intalco’s owner, Alcoa, idled the plant in 2020 and announced a permanent shutdown in 2023.