Two biomass power plants in California’s Central Valley face fines of more than $830,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Consent decrees were lodged against biomass power plants in Chowchilla and El Nido, Calif.

"EPA is committed to doing our part to tackle the worst air quality in the nation. Today’s enforcement actions are a victory for human health," said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s regional administrator for the Pacific Southwest. "San Joaquin Valley communities can now breathe easier as a result of the significant pollution controls won in these settlements."

Operators Ampersand Chowchilla Biomass LLC will pay $328,000 and Merced Power LLC will pay $492,000 to resolve alleged violations of the federal Clean Air Act and San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District rules. Officials said the plants were violating their air emissions permits, including excess emissions of air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and fine particulates.

The companies also were accused of failing to perform timely source testing to measure emissions and failing to properly install and operate emissions control systems.

The plants use green waste and construction debris to generate power, EPA said.