Hattiesburg settles groundwater contamination lawsuit
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) – For the last three years, a lawsuit filed against Hercules/Ashland regarding groundwater contamination has awaited resolution.
The Hattiesburg American reports the matter came to an end Tuesday, when Hattiesburg City Council voted to approve a confidential settlement agreement resolving certain legal claims relating to the former refining plant.
The suit, which was filed in 2013, claimed groundwater contamination from the closed factory may have leached into the city’s water supply. The suit also alleged Hercules improperly disposed of harmful chemicals in the facility for decades.
The settlement involves only the Hercules property and not outside residences that may have individual lawsuits pending.
