April 15, 2008 - Oklahoma Residents Sue over Toxic Waste from Smelter Site

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A lawsuit claims residents of Blackwell, Oklahoma, have been exposed for decades to toxic waste left over from a zinc smelter that closed in 1974 after operating in the city for more than 50 years.

Attorneys for a group of Blackwell residents filed a lawsuit Monday in Kay County against mining companies connected to smelter site, a local industrial authority, and BNSF Railway Company.

Although the lawsuit was filed by only  four Blackwell residents, their attorneys are seeking class-action status. They claim the city and property around the site of the old smelter have been polluted with millions of pounds of toxic waste, including arsenic, cadmium, zinc, and lead, that was released by the smelter.

Defendants include the international mining company Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold and its subsidiary, Phelps Dodge Corporation. The company has been involved in cleanup efforts in Blackwell for more than a decade and is currently conducting soil sampling as part of another round of cleanup.

The plaintiffs are demanding the cleanup of all contaminated property, reimbursement for reduced property values, and monitoring the health of the residents of Blackwell.

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