Power company faces fine for water runoff

A coal-fired power station is facing federal fines of more than $177,000 in the discharge of muddy storm water and other pollutants into the Connecticut River. The Environmental Protection Agency says Mount Tom Generating Co. in Holyoke violated its federally issued permit by exceeding permit discharge limits over a five-month period during construction work. The EPA says rainwater running off construction sites can carry sediments, oil, and other pollutants that can contaminate streams, ponds, and rivers, possibly contributing the die-off of fish, toxic algae blooms, contamination of shellfish beds, and beach closings.