WARREN, R.I. -- The local shipbuilding company, Blount Boats, Inc., has agreed to pay a $24,000 penalty for allegedly violating federal and state clean air regulations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Friday.
The EPA said that Blount has also agreed to invest at least $230,000 to upgrade part of its shipyard so that emissions from sandblasting and spray painting will be reduced.
Marcia Blount, chief executive officer of the company, said that the EPA's allegations are based on the company's potential emissions, not the actual amount of work it does and that Blount denies the allegations.
She said that the penalty was the result of negotiations EPA and that Blount already had plans to build a special tent to contain emissions from spray painting and other operations.