SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) - A Georgia lawmaker says federal officials
are proposing more than $8.7 million in fines against Imperial
Sugar for violations both at its plant near Savannah where an
explosion occurred and at a plant in Gramercy, Louisiana.

Rep. Jack Kingston -- a Republican from Savannah -- says he was
told during a briefing with officials from the Occupational Safety
and Health Administration prior to a news conference that the fine
will be the third-highest in the federal agency's history.

Kingston says the proposed fines include $5 million for the
Georgia explosion and $3.7 million for the Louisiana plant, where
officials found violations a month after the Feb. 7 Georgia blast
that left 13 workers dead and injured dozens more.

Kingston says he was told OSHA found 120 violations against the
Georgia plant, including 61 that are considered egregious and 91
violations against the Louisiana plant, including 47 egregious
ones.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)