Pollution fine imposed following May plea deal

A Texas-based independent oil company has officially been fined $557,000 after admitting that its negligence caused three oil spills in Jefferson Parish bayous in 2008.

The fine announced Wednesday by the Justice Department in Washington had been expected. It was the result of a plea agreement reached in May between federal authorities and Cedyco Corp. of Houston.

Cedyco agreed to pay the fine and stop operating in Louisiana.

The plea, reached in U.S. District Court in New Orleans, is based on spills at a tank battery south of the Barataria Waterway on Bayou St. Denis; an oil storage and production platform near the Plaquemines Parish line on Bayou Dupont; and at a well near that platform.