The Illinois-based company that operates an aluminum processing facility in The Dalles was ordered to pay a fine and restitution Monday for violating the Clean Air Act by releasing a hazardous air pollutant from its facility.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Portland says Hydro Extrusion USA was ordered to pay a fine of $550,000 and more than $213,000 in restitution to an employee sickened by the hazardous release.  According to court documents, while operating its secondary aluminum processing facility, air emissions from the company’s furnaces were open to the interior of the building and did not pass through any pollution control devices before reaching employees or being vented to ambient air.  Under the Clean Air Act, secondary aluminum production facilities are only permitted to use “clean charge,” aluminum scrap free of paints, coatings or lubricants.  The U.S. Attorney’s office says from July 2018 through June 2019, Hydro acquired and melted scrap aluminum coated in a mineral-oil based mixture that, when combusted, produced hazardous smoke, and employees noticed excessive smoke in the facility.  The U.S. Attorney’s office says after cooperating with the government’s investigation and agreeing to plead guilty, Hydro was charged in August with one count of negligent endangerment by discharging a hazardous pollutant,  and pleaded guilty in January.