Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

TIVERTON, R.I. -- A limited clean-up of toxic soil on 50 acres in North Tiverton is expected to begin in September and wind up by the end of the year, according to the state Department of Environmental Management.

The clean-up also will seal off contaminants deeper than 2 feet below ground, concluding the state's biggest, most contentious case of soil contamination, which was discovered in August, 2002.

The case, settled in U.S. District Court in May, also inspired legislation signed by Governor Carcieri on Tuesday that will raise the maximum fines against corporate polluters from $1,000 to $25,000 a day.

The defendant in the federal court case, the Texas-based utility Southern Union, has agreed to pay some 100 affected property owners $9 million in damages and an additional $3 million for the actual clean-up.

 Tags  Southern Union Tiverton RI toxic soil

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