Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Matson pleads guilty in molasses spill case
Matson Navigation Company pled guilty Friday to misdemeanor criminal charges stemming from a 233,000-gallon molasses spill in Honolulu Harbor last year, but a federal judge is reviewing the legality of the sentence.
The 2013 spill killed more than 26,000 fish and other marine life.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Puglisi accepted the plea from Matson Navigation Company Inc. to two misdemeanor charges for illegally releasing the molasses without a permit.
The company and prosecutors wanted to proceed with sentencing, agreeing Matson would pay a $400,000 fine and give $600,000 to environmental organizations.
But Puglisi said he has concerns because the $600,000 community service payment is higher than the maximum statutory fine.
Matson said in a statement earlier this week that as part of a plea agreement, the company would pay $300,000 to the Waikiki Aquarium to support coral programs and invasive algae cleanups, and another $300,000 to Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii.
The deal was still subject to court approval.
For more of the Star Tribune story: www.startribune.com
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