COLUMBUS — Ohio Attorney General Betty Montgomery asked a judge Friday to find the state's largest egg producer in contempt of court, accusing it of failing to meet pollution control laws.

        It was the fifth time the state had filed a contempt motion against Buckeye Egg since filing a 27-count lawsuit against the company last December.

        The motion was filed on behalf of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and accuses Buckeye Egg of failing to clean manure from barns and continuing to contaminate water around its Croton facility in Licking County, about 25 miles east of Columbus.

        “I regret that we must pursue yet another contempt motion in this case,” Ms. Montgomery said. “Buckeye Egg, however, has shown little intent to operate within the bounds of the law, and the state is left with no other choice.”

        A message seeking comment was left at Buckeye Egg Friday.

        The state's motion asks the Licking County Common Pleas Court to fine the company as much as $10,000 a day for each violation of the court's previous orders. A hearing on the state's third and fourth contempt motions is scheduled for Monday in Licking County.

        The Ohio EPA sued Buckeye Egg in December after the company missed a deadline set by the state to pay $750,000 in civil penalties, reduce fly infestations and limit expansion plans and flock size. The company shipped 2.4 billion eggs in 1999 to groceries and restaurants in 20 states.

        Friday's contempt motion came a day after the Ohio Senate approved a bill that takes the authority to grant permits to large livestock farms away from the Ohio EPA, giving it to the state Agriculture Department.

        Proponents say the EPA lacks the ability to properly regulate the farms, leading to pollution problems, and has created a maze of red tape that is hurting Ohio agriculture.

        Opponents think the bill weakens citizens' abilities to fight megafarms and that Agriculture Department officials work too closely with farmers to vigorously enforce the law.

Children's adds research space
West Chester flexes muscle
Best bet to find flu shot: stores
'Night of Fright' and fire
Cabaret theater coming to Newport complex
New United Way leader familiar face in Tristate
RAMSEY: Living history
Christian school's 2nd campus takes root, thrives
Mason gains another chunk
MCNUTT: Community art
HOWARD: Neighborhoods
Buckeye Egg facing fifth contempt filing
Court limits adult kids' ability to sue over parents' wrongful death
Covington man indicted in death of neighbor
Driver's condition critical after head-on crash
Elections panel to hear charge
Excellence rocks at Anderson H.S. rally
Fairfield assistant principal resigns over dispute with boss
Family says mutilated man was looking for cars
General Assembly schedule undecided
Justin to stay with Ohio couple trying to adopt
Licensure board drops complaint about review
Louisville firm weighs starting a water taxi
Man found fatally shot was accused of having sex with a minor
Pardon asked for preacher
Politicking banned at Baptist meetings
Some criticize plan to move mentally retarded
Teen-ager hit while in jail, suit alleges
Thousands send gifts across globe
Unfinished business haunts Bosnia anniversary gathering
Voting problems subject of hearings
Witnesses contradict police over shooting
Woman convicted in mother's death
Kentucky News Briefs
Tristate A.M. Report