The US Environmental Protection Agency announced that Cemex Puerto Rico will spend an estimated US$1.7m on pollution control measures to reduce NOx emissions from its plant in Ponce. In addition, the company will pay a US$160,000 penalty for Clean Air Act violations.

The settlement addresses modifications Cemex made to its cement plant without obtaining the proper permit, as required by the Clean Air Act, a statement by the EPA said.

Following an EPA inspection, Cemex conducted a smokestack test at the plant and potential violations were discovered. In the settlement, conducted will install control technology, which will reduce NOx emissions by approximately 1423tpa.