SAVANNAH — An agency has issued a wastewater discharge permit to the King America Finishing plant on east Georgia's Ogeechee River.

The Savannah Morning News (http://bit.ly/Nt30fV ) reports that the Georgia Environmental Protection Division says the permit includes stringent requirements to protect human health and safety and aquatic life.

The permit becomes effective immediately.

The agency discovered an unpermitted wastewater discharge from the King America Finishing facility in Screven County during an investigation into a major fish kill on the Ogeechee River in May 2011.

As a result of the unpermitted discharge, the agency and King America Finishing reached a settlement in which the company agreed to spend $1 million on supplemental environmental projects to benefit the Ogeechee River.