The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has fined Vector Tobacco Inc. just over $65,000 for allegedly misusing six pesticides and failing to comply with federal pesticide worker safety laws.

The EPA says the violations occurred in 2005 and 2006 at the company's agricultural research facility on Kaua'i.

The government says on 93 occasions, Vector Tobacco failed to follow label directions intended to protect workers from exposure to pesticides. That violated the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act.

The EPA says the state Department of Agriculture discovered the violations during inspections performed in March and June 2006. Worker complaints triggered the initial investigation.

Vector Tobacco has since shut down the facility in Kekaha.