Charleston, W.V. (AP) -- The State Division of Highways has agreed to pay more than $125,000 in fines for repeated environmental violations while working on U.S. 35 in Putnam County.

DOH officials say they try to comply with the law, but agency employees and contractors often are in such a rush to complete road projects that they forget about environmental regulations.

During waterway inspections last year, State Department of Environmental Protection Inspectors found several violations, including improperly installed silt fences and no sediment trapping structures or diversion ditches.

The DEP negotiated privately with the DOH to reach the settlement. The DOH plans to subtract the fines, totaling $125,560, from payments to each of the three contractors.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)