Source:  THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 2/5/10
North Carolina's environmental agency has fined a chicken processing plant $27,410 for a fatal ammonia release in June.

The Division of Air Quality said Friday that Mountaire Farms Inc. of Lumber Bridge was given the maximum fine for not properly handling and storing hazardous materials. The ammonia release killed Clifton Swain of Fayetteville.

The government's investigation found that Mountaire did not have a proper risk management program though the company was fined $4,506 for the same thing in March 2008.

The North Carolina Labor Department also fined the company $73,325 for almost two dozen health and safety violations related to the ammonia release.

Phone and e-mail messages left for a company spokesman Friday were not immediately returned.