Matson, U.S. Attorney resolve molasses spill charge

The Hawaii shipping company will pay $1 million in penalties, but still faces other possible claims over a 2013 molasses spill.    Matson Terminals, a subsidiary of the container carrier, said it has signed an agreement with the U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii in which it pleads guilty to two misdemeanor violations stemming from September 2013 spill of molasses from a Honolulu pipeline that is used to load the product onto ships.
   Matson will plead guilty to violating the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, which it said will resolve all federal criminal charges arising from the molasses accident. It will also pay $1 million in penalties: a $400,000 fine and $600,000 in a community service payment. Of the $600,000, half is earmarked for the University of Hawaii’s Waikiki Aquarium to support coral programs and invasive algae clean-ups; the other half goes to Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii, a group that helps organize beach clean-ups.
   The proposed resolution is subject to review and approval by the court.
   “Matson has cooperated with the U.S. Attorney’s office and the EPA Criminal Investigation Division throughout their investigation of the September 2013 molasses incident,” said Matt Cox, Matson’s president and chief executive officer. “While we regret the incident, we are focused on resolving the matter, subject to the court’s approval of the agreement. We continue to cooperate with the state and the EPA in an effort to address impacts from the incident.”
   Matson Terminals and its affiliates have not yet resolved any potential civil claims by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or claims by the State of Hawaii arising out of the molasses incident. Matson Terminals suspended its operation of the molasses pipeline system at the Sand Island terminal after the incident in September 2013.