Neville Chemical Co., already facing fines of $13 million for long-standing pollution problems at its Neville Island resin production facility, has agreed to clean up and treat contaminated groundwater to prevent it from entering the river.

The state Department of Environmental Protection yesterday announced that Neville Chemical had signed a consent order and agreement to treat the polluted groundwater and contaminated soil at its production plant. A temporary treatment system for the contaminated groundwater must be completed by the end of June. The company has until November 2005 to complete a permanent treatment system.

The company faces additional fines of $200 to $400 a day if an oil sheen from contaminated groundwater appears on the river after the treatment pumps begin operating.

Neville Chemical said it has spent about $1.2 million to study the problem and evaluate pollution recovery equipment, and estimates it will spend an additional $3 million to install the interim pollution remediation system.

The new consent order does not cancel or negate the previous $13 million in fines the DEP is seeking in a November lawsuit that alleges the company allowed hazardous waste oil from a layer of pollution floating on top of the groundwater to enter the Ohio River for more than 18 months.