PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - Federal prosecutors have suggested a judge fine a Texas natural gas firm $500,000 after a U.S. Supreme Court decision struck down the original $18 million penalty for a serious mercury spill.
U.S. District Judge William Smith said in April that the result in the case involving Southern Union was unsatisfactory and unjust. He said a community service sentence would be most appropriate and asked for ideas on what that would entail.
Prosecutors last week filed papers saying there is little to be gained from a community service sentence, and suggested instead a $100,000 fine and $400,000 payment to emergency response agencies.
Smith also asked environmentalists to weigh in. The clerk of court says several groups had responded, and their ideas will be made public in the next two weeks or sooner.