State officials and the company whose Apex hazardous waste site erupted in a ball of fire and displaced thousands last October reached an agreement that will void the company's permit to operate in North Carolina.

Environmental Quality has agreed to pay $441,944 for five violations of state hazardous waste regulations discovered in the investigation of the explosion. EQ also agreed to give up its right to store hazardous waste in the state, said Cathy Akroyd, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

A state investigation found that the company had not reported incidents involving chemical reactions, fires and waste releases. The fine is lower than the $553,225 fine the state initially imposed on EQ in March.

"We are pleased that we were able to reach a negotiated and mutually agreed upon settlement with DENR," EQ Vice President Scott Maris said in a news release. In addition to the state fine, EQ has paid $200,000 to the town of Apex to cover expenses there.

Apex officials had vocally opposed EQ rebuilding in the town. "As a result of the fire, the explosion and its aftermath ... EQ no longer was welcome in our community," Town Manager Bruce Radford said.

The company's state permit had been suspended after the fire, and Apex officials watched closely as the state considered its future.

The final steps of closing the site will include a cleanup of the concrete pad and testing of surrounding soil. The hazardous waste that remained after the fire was removed months ago.

The fire prompted the N.C. General Assembly to tighten rules on hazardous waste storage sites. Such facilities must now submit lists of the substances they store to emergency management officials, keep security on site 24 hours a day and notify neighboring homes and businesses as part of the siting process.