One of MPLX LP processing plants, located in Evans City.

The federal government and several states settled a case with a major gas processing company, MPLX LP, over alleged environmental violations the company made in 20 processing plants, including one in Evans City, according to a press release from the Environmental Protection Agency.

“This agreement will eliminate harmful air pollutants and create cleaner air for communities in six states,” said Susan Bodine, an EPA assistant administrator for enforcement and compliance, in a prepared statement.

In the settlement, the company agreed to create measures to reduce emission and pay a $925,000 penalty, among other environmentally harmful reductions. MPLX LP faces allegations of violating federal and state clean air laws for equipment leaks, pressure relief devices, storage tanks, truck and railcar loading, combustion devices, and process heaters, according to the release.

In coming to a settlement, the company is not admitting wrongdoing. But the settlement dictates that the company, a subsidiary of Findlay, Ohio-based Marathon Petroleum Corp., to install and improve technologies that will help control and reduce gas emissions at its processing facilities. The upgrades are expected to cost the company about $2.78 million. The settlement also dictates that the company reduce volatile organic compound emissions at two of its natural gas compressor stations in Pennsylvania and Ohio, which the government expects will cost the company another $700,000.

According to the EPA, volatile organic compound emissions, which are vapors, “include a variety of chemicals that may produce adverse health effects such as eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, nausea, and damage to the liver, kidney, and the central nervous system.”

Read more about what other steps the company must take in Sunday's Butler Eagle.