Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha is announcing a settlement with major oil and gas companies over pollution allegations. The state claimed that gasoline refiners Shell, Sunoco, and CITGO contaminated Rhode Island's soil and groundwater with the gasoline additive methyl tertiary-butyl ether, or M-T-B-E.
“MBTE contamination of public water supplies poses a significant public health and safety risk, one which oil and gas companies knew about well before the public did,” said Attorney General Neronha. “The work to remediate contaminated water supplies continues, and the funds recovered to date, including today, will be exclusively dedicated to doing that work. In the meantime, this Office remains strongly committed to ensuring that the remaining oil and gas defendants are held responsible for the damage they have caused to the people of Rhode Island and the environment.”
The companies will pay fifteen-million dollars, which will be dedicated to an ongoing remediation effort by the state Department of Environmental Management. Lawsuits against other major gas refineries remain active.
(Photo Credit: John Baibak, Newsradio RI)