Eastern Shore poultry rendering plant to pay about $1 million to settle lawsuits over pollution problems

Valley Proteins, a Dorchester County poultry rendering plant with a history of pollution problems, has agreed to pay about $1 million to settle lawsuits from environmental groups and the state, officials announced Monday. The consent decree agreement, which still requires a judge’s approval, includes $540,000 in civil penalties that Valley Proteins must pay to the state and $160,000 to fund water restoration and water quality monitoring efforts.