Federal environmental regulators have denied that the fine for a Penrose metal stamping plant, alleged to have violated hazardous waste rules, will reach $1.5 billion, as stated by the owner. Officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday called the enormous estimate by American Carolina Stamping owner Steve McNabb absurd and said they had not yet figured what the company's fine could be for alleged hazardous waste violations stemming from a 1999 raid on the plant off U.S. 64 West near the Transylvania County line. McNabb said earlier this week that according to a Sept. 4 complaint and compliance...