Wal-Mart Story Continued......

Wal-Mart spokesman Gus Whitcomb said the Bentonville, Ark.-based company will make changes at its construction sites to ensure environmental compliance.

"We also believe that this agreement sets a new industry standard for developers and their contractors, who also make daily decisions which impact compliance," Whitcomb said.

Storm-water runoff carries sediment and dirt into the nation’s waterways, killing fish, destroying habitat and blocking light that spurs growth of beneficial plant life. The runoff also can contain chemicals, solvents and other toxic substances.

The settlement, filed in U.S. District Court in Wilmington, Del., cites Wal-Mart violations at 24 construction sites in nine states and alleges the company failed to get required permits, did not institute a runoff control plan and failed to install controls to prevent discharges.

Wal-Mart will comply with these requirements under the agreement and will improve training and inspections of its construction sites. The settlement also requires frequent reporting to the EPA.

In addition, Wal-Mart agreed to spend $250,000 to help protect sensitive wetlands or waterways in one state, not yet determined, among the nine involved in the settlement. The nine states are California, Colorado, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Utah.

In 2001, Wal-Mart and several contractors reached a similar storm water settlement that included payment of a $1 million penalty. EPA inspections of other sites arising from that case led to the latest violations.