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ArcelorMittal is indicted for pollution in Fos-sur-Mer, France

ArcelorMittal is indicted for pollution in Fos-sur-Mer, France

The Marseille Public Prosecutor's Office announced on Tuesday that ArcelorMittal had been indicted in relation to industrial pollution and forgery in the Fos-sur-Mer area of France.

In an email, the prosecutor’s office announced that the world's second-largest steelmaker had been placed under judicial oversight, and was required to make a deposit of 250,000 euros ($270,450), as well as a bank guarantee of 1.75 million euros.

In November 2018, the French environmental NGO Association de Defense et Protection du Littoral du Golfe de Fos, 250 local residents and unions as well as other non-profit organisations sued the Luxembourg-based group.

Julie Andreu was their lawyer. She is an environmental attorney from Marseille who filed the complaint.

In a press statement, the NGO stated that "ADPLGF is pleased with these historic indictments which target not only corporate entities but also individual individuals."

ArcelorMittal, a Luxembourg-based company, "firmly contests" the allegations. The group also said that it "fully co-operates with authorities who are responsible for dealing with complaints from residents and environmental groups related to the Fos-sur-Mer Site."

The company stated that it had done "everything in its power" to ensure emissions at the Fos-sur-Mer facility met the annual limits. No data has been falsified."

The company added that it had invested "more than 735 millions euros since 2014, particularly to modernize their facilities or to innovate to reduce emissions levels, whose regulatory standards are becoming increasingly strict."

The group said that these actions allowed ArcelorMittal reduce its atmospheric emissions by 70% in comparison to 2002.

(source: Reuters)