The US Government is making a company pay $12 million (£7.6m) to address its violations of environmental laws and cut pollution.

The company, Tonawanda Coke Corporation is being made to spend approximately $7.9 million (£5m) to reduce air pollution and $1.3 million (£0.8m) for environmental projects in the area of Tonawanda, New York.

The firm must improve its processes, operations and monitoring for coke oven gas leaks. It must also assess key equipment, repair or replace equipment and install new pollution controls.

The settlement requires the company to pay a $1.75 million (£1.10m) civil penalty to the US, to resolve violations of the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-know Act.

It must also pay a $1 million (£0.64) civil penalty to the State of New York, which is a co-plaintiff with the US and an extra $357,000 (£228, 000) will be provided to Ducks Unlimited, a not-for-profit organisation, to acquire and preserve wetlands.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regional Administrator, Judith Enck said: “Tonawanda Coke has been an environmental outlaw for too long.

“This settlement will provide greater public health protections for the people of Western New York.

“The community did their own air toxic monitoring, which revealed high levels of pollution. This fine example of citizen science spurred government action to protect the community.”