Yuengling brewery settles with feds over water violations

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - The country's oldest brewery has installed an $8 million wastewater pretreatment system and will pay a $2.8 million fine to settle allegations that it violated the Clean Water Act.

Federal authorities say in a consent decree filed Thursday that D.G. Yuengling (YING'-ling) & Son agreed to the penalty to settle allegations that it charged pollutants into a Pennsylvania municipal wastewater treatment plant numerous times between 2008 and 2015.

Authorities say in a complaint filed concurrently with the settlement that the Pottsville-based company violated pretreatment permit requirements, including discharge limits for pollutants, at least 141 times in that time period.

Yuengling says the agreement strengthens its environmental protocols. Company officials say the brewery wastewater isn't toxic but the organic materials can upset the Greater Pottsville Area Sewer Authority's treatment process.