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Matson to plead guilty to molasses spill charges

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GEORGE LEE / GLEE@STARADVERTISER.COM
Crewmen from Sea Engineering Inc. and divers from AECOS Inc. prepared

A shipping company is pleading guilty to federal charges from a molasses spill in Honolulu Harbor.

Matson Terminals, Inc. is scheduled to enter a guilty plea Friday in federal court in Honolulu.

A spokesman says Matson Navigation Company Senior Vice President and General Counsel Peter Heilmann will be appearing at the hearing.

The misdemeanor charges are for illegally releasing about 1,400 tons molasses into the harbor last year. The spill killed more than 26,000 fish and other marine life.

The plea is part of an agreement that Matson pay penalties totaling $1 million. The penalties include money to support coral programs and invasive algae clean ups.

The company says it still faces potential civil claims by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the state.

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