StarKist to pay $6.3M in American Samoa wastewater case

PAGO PAGO, American Samoa (AP) — The world's largest supplier of canned tuna has agreed to pay a $6.3 million penalty for wastewater violations in American Samoa, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Tuesday.

StarKist Co., based in Pittsburgh and owned by South Korea's Dongwon Industries, will also take steps to reduce environmental harm to the U.S. territory, where it is the largest private employer.

"StarKist is committed to American Samoa and its people by being a socially responsible company and doing the right thing," Andrew Choe, company president and CEO, said in a statement.

StarKist and subsidiary StarKist Samoa Co. are required to make various upgrades to reduce pollution, improve safety measures and comply with federal environmental laws at the their American Samoa tuna processing plant, the Justice Department said.

Read more: http://www.tbo.com/ap/world/starkist-to-pay-m-in-american-samoa-wastewater-case-ap_worldbc6dfc1b931541f2a2be9e2fd9082d01