Ohio power company fulfills Louisiana wetlands agreement

ALEXANDRIA, La. — An Ohio-based multinational power company has completed an agreement to pay for potential pollution by reforesting wetlands for a national wildlife refuge in Louisiana.

American Electric Power, The Conservation Fund and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Wednesday that the final 4,100 acres (1,650 hectares) are now part of the Catahoula National Wildlife Refuge.

The land links the two northernmost chunks of the refuge in east-central Louisiana, which is home to waterfowl and Louisiana black bears and is a stopping place for migratory birds.

Spokesman Mike Williams says the Columbus, Ohio-based company planted more than 2 million bottomland hardwood trees on 10,000 acres (4,000 hectares) within a few years of the 2001 agreement for carbon sequestration credits.

Williams says AEP hasn’t used any of the credits.

The Associated Press