(T.J. Aulds, The Galveston Daily News)
More than 50,000 people have sued BP over a 2010 emissions event at its Texas City refinery that sent more than 500,000 pounds of chemicals into the air.
Court officials said the number of plaintiffs tops the number who filed legal action against the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association after Hurricane Ike.
From April 6 to May 16, 2010, a problem with a compressor on the refinery’s ultracracker unit resulted in increased flaring for 40 days as the unit continued to operate. During that time, more than 500,000 pounds of chemicals, including carbon monoxide and benzene, were released into the air.
A state investigation and subsequent lawsuit found that BP’s decision to keep operating the unit and flare led to a violation of the state’s air quality laws, and the company paid a $50 million fine in a comprehensive settlement with the state that included past air emission violations.
According to records from the Galveston County District Clerk’s Office, BP now faces 53,800 people who claim they suffered ill health effects as a result of the emissions event. While the cases have been clumped together in blocks of 100 to create 538 cases, the number of people suing the company eclipses the number of people who sued TWIA over Ike claims. (Read more at the Galveston Daily News)
RELATED: TC Refinery Emissions Possibly Underestimated (Galveston Daily News)
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