(AP) — The Ash Grove Cement Co. has agreed to pay a $2.5 million penalty to the EPA and invest roughly $30 million in better pollution-control equipment at nine plants.

The Environmental Protection Agency announced the settlement agreement on Wednesday.

EPA officials say this deal will reduce air pollution and eliminate more than 17,000 tons of nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide pollution annually.

Ash Grove has cement plants in Foreman, Ark.; Inkom, Idaho; Chanute, Kan.; Clancy, Mont.; Louisville, Neb.; Durkee, Ore.; Leamington, Utah; Seattle, Wash.; and Midlothian, Texas.

Ash Grove also pledged to spend $750,000 to reduce the effects of past excess emissions at several of its facilities.

Ash Grove is based in Overland Park, Kan.