Georgia-Pacific to pay $10 million for environmental damages

ASHWAUBENON, WISCONSIN - Georgia-Pacific Corporation will give 1,000 acres of land and $10.1 million to pay for environmental damages caused by polluting the Fox River. <br> <br> Wisconsin&#39;s Natural Resources Secretary, Darrell Bazzell, said Thursday that the agreement represents ``another major milestone&#39;&#39; in the restoration of fish and wildlife habitat in the Fox River system. <br> <br> Some of the money will pay for building trails, boat access ramps and picnic areas along the river. It also will help restore habitat for yellow perch, spotted musky and northern pike. <br> <br> Georgia-Pacific is one of seven paper companies liable for wildlife damages from dumping polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCB&#39;s, in the Fox River from the 1950s through the 1970s. The chemicals were linked to reproductive and developmental problems in people, fish and wildlife. <br> <br> Atlanta-based Georgia-Pacific and its subsidiary, Fort James Operating Company, is the first one to settle its natural resources damage liability with the Natural Resources Trustees of the Lower Fox River, which includes representatives of the DNR, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Oneida and Menominee Indian tribes.