Residents near PA refineries sue over emissions

Beaumont Enterprise
© The Associated Press
06/25/2003

More than 500 neighbors of Port Arthur's refineries and chemical plants sued the corporations that own them Wednesday, claiming damages from pollution caused by "noxious fumes, vapors, odors and hazardous substances."

The lawsuit seeks medical monitoring and reimbursement for medical expenses the plaintiffs claim are a result of pollutants.

"The evidence we have obtained shows a habitual pattern of emissions and discharges that endanger the health of the public," said John Card, a plaintiffs' attorney.

Among the defendant companies that operate facilities in Port Arthur are Premcor Refining, BASF Corp., Atofina Petrochemicals, Chevron Phillips Chemical Co., Huntsman Petrochemicals and Motiva Enterprises.

BASF spokesman Jonathan Evans said the company had not seen the lawsuit but was looking forward to seeing it and understanding the plaintiffs' concerns.

"We care about our employees and our community," Evans said, adding that BASF strives to minimize emissions. "We're comfortable in the effectiveness of our technology."

None of the other companies immediately returned messages Wednesday afternoon to The Associated Press seeking reaction.

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