Highest acid rain penalty The East Kentucky Power Cooperative, a coal-fired electric power station in the us, has agreed to pay us $11.4 million as penalty to resolve violations of the Clean Air Act's acid rain programme. This is the highest fine ever under the programme.

Between 2000 and 2005, the power station's Dale Generating Station in the Clark county emittedmore than 15,000 tonnes of sulphur dioxide and 4,000 tonnes of nitrogen oxide without a permit, said theus Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice.

The power station had also allegedly exceeded the federal annual emission rate for nitrogen oxides. Apart from paying the penalty, the company has been instructed to apply for a fresh acid-rain permit.

While its emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides will be regularly monitored, the company has also been directed to install technologically advanced equipment to monitor emissions.