HONOLULU — The shipping company responsible for a molasses spill that killed more than 26,000 fish and other marine life in Hawaii will plead guilty to federal criminal charges.
Federal prosecutors on Tuesday filed two misdemeanor charges against Matson Terminals, Inc. for last year’s spill of 1,400 tons of molasses.
The charges are for illegally releasing molasses without a permit into Honolulu Harbor on Sept. 9 and 10.
Matson says in a statement the company and the U.S. Attorney’s office have signed a plea agreement to plead guilty and pay penalties totaling $1 million. The penalties include money to support coral programs and invasive algae clean ups. The agreement is subject to court approval.
The company says it still faces potential civil claims by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the state.