Charges Filed in Paper Mill Spill

The Justice Department has filed two criminal misdemeanor charges against Temple-Inland, the former owner of a paper mill in Bogalusa, for violating federal environmental laws.

The charges stem from a five-day spill of pollutants from the company's paper plant into the Pearl River in August 2011.

A bill of information filed in U.S. District Court in New Orleans on Dec. 20 says a "liquor" produced during the processing of pulpwood into paper pulp was discharged, resulting in the death of thousands of fish.

The Times-Picayune reports company officials have been summoned for an initial appearance and arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel Knowles III on January 31.