State of Iowa files lawsuit against Muscatine grain processor

The state has filed a lawsuit against Grain Processing Corp. for what Attorney General Tom Miller says are numerous air and water pollution control violations at the company's plant in Muscatine.

The lawsuit was filed Thursday in Muscatine County District Court, claiming GPC emitted excessive particulates and sulfur dioxide, failed to maintain and repair equipment to prevent excessive emissions, failed to obtain necessary permits for construction projects and failed to comply with notification and emission reduction requirements.

GPC spokeswoman Janet Sichterman says in a statement published in The Des Moines Register the company was surprised by the lack of notice of the lawsuit, and has resolved most of the issues raised in the lawsuit.

The Muscatine plant processes grain into ethanol and various feed and food byproducts.