U.S. Water News Online
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- A chemical company will pay $5.25 million to settle a lawsuit claiming pollution from a plant had negative effects on residents in a southwest Louisville neighborhood.
Hexion Specialty Chemicals agreed to the settlement with residents in Louisville's Rubbertown neighborhood. About 80 residents sued Hexion, along with E.On, the parent company of Louisville Gas and Electric, in May, alleging that pollution from the plants affected their health and lowered their property values.
Under the terms of the settlement, Hexion will spend about $4 million to improve its plant's wastewater treatment, which is believed to be the major source of odors, and to build a buffer of berms and vegetation between the 35-year-old plant and the neighborhood.
The remaining $1.25 million would go into a settlement fund to compensate homeowners and to pay their lawyers.
The homeowners in the area have agreed to drop their claims against Hexion in exchange. A lawyer for the plaintiffs said each homeowner covered by the proposed settlement probably could expect to receive roughly $3,000.
That's good enough for Terri Humphrey, who lives in the area and has taken part in protests of the plants.
"It's the fact that somebody has finally been honest and stepped up to the plate and said, 'Yeah, this is wrong, we need to do something about it'," Humphrey said.
The settlement doesn't affect the claims against E.On, which are ongoing in Jefferson County Circuit Court.
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