environmental contamination News

New Jersey Sues Ford for Damages Over Mining That Contaminated Tribal Land

New Jersey officials sued Ford Motor Company on Thursday, alleging that the automaker contaminated the ancestral homeland of a Native American tribe by dumping paint sludge and other pollutants into a former mine. The action in state court seeks unspecified …

Maine Enacts Law That Will Ban Use of ‘Forever Chemicals’ in All Products by 2030

Maine last month enacted a law that makes it the first U.S. state to ban the use of PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, in nearly all products. PFAS are commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” because of their inability …

Biopharmaceutical Company to Pay $600K to Settle Alleged Clean Air Act Violations

A global biopharmaceutical company has agreed to pay $600,000 and limit its emissions of harmful air pollutants to settle allegations that it violated the Massachusetts Clean Air Act and regulations at its Lexington, Massachusetts, facility. Of that amount, $200,000 will …

Massachusetts Contractor to Pay for Clean-Up Costs Following Chemical Explosion

A Sutton, Mass.-based contractor has agreed to pay $120,000 to reimburse the state for the cost of responding to a 2017 explosion and fire of a backyard shed at a Shrewsbury residential property, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey announced. The …

New Beazley Environmental Liability Coverage Targets Banks, Lenders

Specialist insurer Beazley has launched site lender environmental asset protection (SLEAP) cover to protect banks and other lenders from pollution risks that could seriously impair the value of property used as collateral for commercial loans. In the event of both …

Aluminum Producer Norsk Hydro Denies Brazil Refinery Contaminated Local Waters

Aluminum producer Norsk Hydro denied on Monday its Alunorte alumina refinery in Brazil had contaminated local waters, contradicting the findings of a Brazilian public health group. Citing an internal study and a report commissioned from green consultancy SGW Services, Hydro …

New York Court Affirms Gas Company on the Hook for Environmental Cleanup Costs

The New York Court of Appeals has ruled that KeySpan Gas East Corporation is responsible for costs to clean up environmental contamination caused by manufactured gas plants owned by its predecessor during years when there was no pollution property damage …

Anglo American’s Ruptured Pipeline Is 2nd Mine Incident in Brazil in 2018

Anglo American Plc’s Brazilian iron-ore mine suffered operational delays after a pipeline ruptured Monday morning, the company confirmed by email. The good news is that no one was hurt, the company said. The troubling news is the mishap marks the …

Contamination Found at Norsk Hydro’s Alumina Refiner in Brazil, Say Researchers

A Brazilian government-backed institute is readying new evidence of contamination near the world’s biggest alumina refiner, Norsk Hydro ASA’s Alunorte, in the northern state of Para, a researcher told Reuters. A more complete report being prepared for release next week …

New Jersey Supreme Court Issues Ruling in $500M Contamination Lawsuit

The New Jersey Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Givaudan Fragrances Corporation (Fragrances) in a $500 million insurance coverage lawsuit against Aetna Casualty & Surety Company and additional insurers named as defendants. The move affirms that New Jersey policyholders …