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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- An environmental group says it has settled a lawsuit accusing South Carolina Electric & Gas of illegally discharging arsenic and other contaminants into a river near Columbia.

Attorneys for the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation said Monday that a settlement includes an agreement to remove all of the coal ash now being stored at the Wateree Station near Eastover.

“This settlement is a great example of how industry, stakeholders and government agencies can work together to produce a proactive plan that is in the best interest of all,” said Jim Landreth, vice president for SCE&G Fossil and Hydro Operations. “From our voluntary agreement with DHEC a year ago to our affirmation of that agreement in our settlement with the Catawba Riverkeeper today, SCE&G continues to demonstrate its commitment to efficiently and effectively decommission wet ash storage facilities at all of our coal-fired stations.”

The environmental group sued SCE&G earlier this year, saying the company stores wet coal ash in earthen lagoons near its Eastover plant and that monitoring wells near the lagoons show five times the legal limit of arsenic. The suit adds that sometimes the material leaks into the river.

“This is an historic agreement. SCE&G has bound itself to remove its coal ash from the impoundments near the Wateree River, has accelerated its schedule for removal, and has committed itself to improved handling and storage of coal ash," said Fank Holleman, Senior Attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center.

SCE&G has denied any illegal discharge of pollutants. The company said in a statement that the settlement is in all parties' best interest.

“This agreement and SCE&G’s commitments are a major step forward for the protection of the Catawba-Wateree Basin. Coal ash will be removed from unlined impoundments near the banks of the River and the ash pond will be closed. SCE&G’s binding commitments are in the best interests of the Wateree, the Congaree National Park, and SCE&G," said Rick Gaskins with the Catawba Riverkeeper.

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