Parko claims she and her neighbors suffered lower property values due to benzene and other carcinogenic chemical releases that have contaminated the groundwater, land and air of Roxana. The emissions are allegedly caused by broken pipelines and the refinery itself. More than 200,000 pounds of pure benzene were released from a pipeline directly into the ground during the time Shell owned the refinery…
By JOE HARRIS: Monday, September 16, 2013
EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (CN) – A federal judge certified a class action accusing Shell Oil Co. of contaminating private property near its refinery in Roxana, Ill.
Lead plaintiff Jeana Parko sued Shell Oil Company, Equilon Enterprises dba Shell Oil Products US, ConocoPhillips Company, WRB Refining LP, ConocoPhillips WRB Partner and Cenovus GPCO in Madison County Court in April 2012. The lawsuit was later removed to federal court.
Parko claims she and her neighbors suffered lower property values due to benzene and other carcinogenic chemical releases that have contaminated the groundwater, land and air of Roxana. The emissions are allegedly caused by broken pipelines and the refinery itself. More than 200,000 pounds of pure benzene were released from a pipeline directly into the ground during the time Shell owned the refinery, according to a release from Simmons Browder Gianaris Angelides & Barnerd, the firm representing the class.