WASHINGTON (AP) – The Home Depot Inc., the world’s largest home improvement store chain, has agreed to pay a $1.3 million penalty and start a nationwide compliance program to resolve alleged violations of environmental law related to storm water pollution, federal officials said Tuesday.

The settlement with the Justice Department, Environmental Protection Agency and the state of Colorado resolves alleged violations of the Clean Water Act discovered at more than 30 construction sites in 28 states where new Home Depot stores were being built.

Six of the sites were in New England, including four in New Hampshire, and one each in Maine and Massachusetts.

The government allegations included not obtaining permits until after construction had begun, and at sites with permits, EPA found violations of requirements that prevent pollution from getting into storm water runoff.

The deal requires Home Depot to implement a program to prevent storm water pollution at each new store it builds nationwide, including increased site inspections and proper training for construction managers and contractors on federal storm water requirements.

“EPA requires construction sites to take simple, basic steps to prevent storm water pollution,” Granta Y. Nakayama, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, said in a release. “We expect a large corporation like Home Depot to comply with the law and protect the waters in the communities it serves.”

Home Depot has worked for years with the government agencies to develop policies and procedures to ensure compliance with storm water regulations and is pleased to resolve the matter, said Ron DeFeo, a spokesman for the Atlanta-based company.

The consent decree, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and court approval. Home Depot is required to pay the penalty within 30 days of the court’s approval of the settlement.

Shares of Home Depot, which earlier Tuesday said its fourth-quarter profit fell more than 27 percent amid a housing slump that contributed to its first annual sales decline, added 18 cents to $29 in afternoon trading.

The New Hampshire sites were in Rochester, Tilton, Seabrook and Londonderry. The other New England sites were in Ellsworth, Maine; and Somerset, Mass.

AP-ES-02-26-08 1444EST