EPA Fines Luzerne County Battery Plant for Violating the Clean Water Act

Koehler-Bright Star Inc., a battery manufacturer in Hanover Township settled a case with the Environmental Protection Agency by agreeing to pay $60,000 dollars. Federal environmental regulators say Koehler-Bright Star dumped wastewater containing high levels of lead and copper to the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Sewer Authority facility in Hanover for five years, from 2005 to 2010. The amounts of lead and copper in the wastewater exceeded limits permitted by the EPA.
Short-term exposure to copper can lead to gastrointestinal illnesses, but longterm exposure could cause liver and kidney damage. Lead can cause developmental delays in children. Koehler-Bright Star is best known for the manufacturing of industrial flashlights and fire alarms used by industry and first responders.

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