New York State Files Suit Against Exxon Mobil, 4 Other Companies

By Jennifer Griffith

Published on February 09, 2007

In addition to Exxon Mobil, BP, Chevron, KeySpan, and Phelps Dodge are being sued by the state for their participation in the environmental hazard.

The oil spill, larger than the Exxon Valdez spill, originally spanned 100 acres and involved over 17 million gallons of oil. It now covers 55 acres where over 100 different toxic chemicals including arsenic, benzene, and lead, contaminate groundwater.

In Newton Creek, a three and a half mile estuary that flows into the East River, heavy metals and some of the same and other toxic chemicals have been found.

On the creek’s north bank, Dodge Phelps operated a copper smelting plant. Subsidiaries of Dodge Phelps and Chevron also operated oil refineries along the creek and, according to the notice, leaked oil into the ground.

According to a spokesperson for Exxon Mobil, the company had not yet received the notices.

Exxon Mobil is also being sued for the spill by local elected officials and the environmental group Riverkeeper.

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