ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Exxon Settles Price-Fixing Suit: The oil company agreed to pay $9.9 million to four states to settle charges that it fixed gas prices in the 1970s. California, Arizona, Washington and Oregon filed lawsuits between 1975 and 1977 alleging that Exxon and six other oil companies conspired to raise gasoline prices and eliminate competition. The suits were eventually combined. The money will be divided among the states later, said Lawrence Tapper, a California deputy attorney general. Exxon admitted no wrongdoing under the settlement. The states will continue court action against the other companies in the suits--Chevron Corp., Mobil Corp., Shell Oil Co., Texaco Inc., Unocal Corp. and Atlantic Richfield Co.