(Radio Iowa) – A Japanese company has agreed to pay a nearly 460-thousand dollar federal fine after two hazardous chemical releases from its grain processing facility in southeast Iowa. Ajinomoto operates two plants in Eddyville. One makes food and seasonings, the other makes animal feed. The U-S Environmental Protection Agency inspected the facilities after a 2021 incident when hydrochloric gas was released and again after a 2022 chlorine leak.

Both incidents led to evacuations and shelter-in-place orders to residents in the Eddyville area. According to the E-P-A, some Ajinomoto employees were injured by the chlorine leak two years ago. The E-P-A accused Ajinomoto of failing to coordinate with local emergency responders about the risks associated with chemicals being used at the facility. As part of the settlement, Ajinomoto has agreed to install an anhydrous ammonia containment system on its Eddyville campus.

A spokesperson for Ajinomoto was not immediately available for comment.