FACTBOX - US utility pollution lawsuits detailed
Date: 17-Jan-02
Country: USA
The lawsuits were filed in November 1999 against a total of 25 plants in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, West Virginia, Georgia, Alabama and Florida.
The following lists companies sued by the federal government and the status of each case:
American Electric Power Co
* Lawsuit filed in Ohio by EPA and 8 Northeastern states.
* No trial date set
Cinergy Corp
* Lawsuit filed in Indiana
* On hold, pending settlement negotiations
Duke Energy Corp
* Lawsuit filed in North Carolina
* Trial set for September 2003
FirstEnergy Corp's Ohio Edison Co
* Lawsuit filed in Ohio by EPA and states of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
* Trial set for November 2002
Vectren Corp's Southern Indiana Gas & Electric
* Lawsuit filed in Indiana
* Trial set for October 2002
Dynegy Inc's Illinois Power Co
* Lawsuit filed in Illinois
* Trial set for February 2003 Southern Co
* Lawsuit against Georgia Power Co filed in Georgia
* Lawsuit against Alabama Power Co filed in Alabama
* Both on hold pending a decision in lawsuit involving Tennessee Valley Authority TECO Energy Inc's Tampa Electric
* Lawsuit settled in February 2000 with TECO's agreement to pay $3.5 million fine and promise to spend $1 billion over deecade to improve pollution controls. Tennessee Valley Authority
* TVA, a nation's largest public power producer, appealed to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals an EPA ruling that it violated the Clean Air Act by failing to install pollution equipment on expanded and upgraded plants. The appeals court refused in January 2002 to dismiss the case but has not yet set a date for oral arguments.
SETTLEMENTS WITH U.S. OIL REFINERS
In addition to taking action against U.S. utilities, the EPA also expressed concern in 1999 about similar air pollution violations by American refineries, which had upgraded or expanded their plants.
The EPA did not file lawsuits, but entered into negotiations with several refiners, some of which are continuing.
Settlements have already been reached for a total of 32 refining plants owned by the following companies:
* Motiva/Equilon/Shell
* Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC
* Conoco Inc
* Navajo Refining Co
* Montana Refining Co
* Koch Petroleum Corp
* BP Plc .
