Authorities say Imperial Sugar has agreed to pay the Georgia Environmental Protection Division $6,000 for air quality violations at its Port Wentworth facility in the first half of 2011.

The Savannah Morning News reports the state agency outlined the violations in a consent order made public this week.

The order states that between Jan. 1, 2011, and June 30, 2011, a boiler at the facility emitted excess nitrogen oxides for 327 hours, a little more than 9 percent of the time it was operating.

David Lyle, Environmental Protection Division program manager, says the agency takes enforcement action when the limits are exceeded more than 8 percent of the time.

Lyle said Imperial self-reported the nitrogen oxide emissions as required.

Imperial declined to comment on the issue.