The steel company ArcelorMittal was sentenced on Tuesday to a fine of 150,000 euros for pollution of the Fensch River in March and August 2019, we learned from the public prosecutor of Thionville (Moselle), Brice Partouche.
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The court, which also requested the publication of its decision in several newspapers, on the other hand released two directors sued in this case: the director of the Florange site and the former director of the coking plant, which has since closed.
The steel group appeared on November 10 for pollution that appeared on March 8 and August 12, 2019, the first due to a cleaning operation of the coking plant, the second following heavy rains.
The prosecution, which had requested a fine of 300,000 euros, accused ArcelorMittal of having been slow to comply with the standards of the Environmental Code, saying that the company was aware of the risk.
Before the judges, as in a press release sent to journalists before the hearing, ArcelorMittal pleaded for release.
The company argued it was signing up
“In a process of continuous improvement on environmental issues”
.
"An example value"
At the origin of the complaints against the world giant of steel, in particular for
"spill of harmful substance in water"
, in this case of hydrocarbons, the LR mayor of Florange, Rémy Dick, said he was
"very satisfied. "
Of a judgment which has
" an example value "
and
" symbol "
.
This decision
"gives real credibility to elected officials to demand results in environmental matters
," he said.
"Now, we will be able to see all the industrialists of Fensch and tell them that there will be legal proceedings if there is no respect for the environment,"
he said.
The Florange coking plant, which employed 170 employees, was closed at the end of April by ArcelorMittal
"with the aim of definitive shutdown as soon as possible"
, according to the group.
In Florange, ArcelorMittal has more than 2,000 employees.
