Texas Settles Waste Management Waste Pit Site Lawsuit

Waste Management Inc. said a lawsuit that had involved the company and a Harris County, Texas, Superfund waste pit site located on the San Jacinto River has been resolved with a $29.2 million settlement.

Houston-based Waste Management said that to avoid further litigation costs it was pleased to see Harris County and the state of Texas’ lawsuit against McGinnis Industrial Maintenance Corp. (MIMC), a Waste Management subsidiary, resolved. The settlement dismisses the government claims against Waste Management of Texas Inc., the company said in a news release.

The waste pits are a legacy issue for Waste Management from the 1960s with MIMC. The pits were constructed for the disposal of pulp and paper mill waste. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) named it a Superfund site in 2008.

Waste Management said before the trial the court removed the company from the case. It previously accrued for substantially all of the $29.2 million.

“We remain focused on the remediation of the site and maintain our active participation in the very structured and well-defined EPA process, established to evaluate and determine the appropriate remedy for the site,” Waste Management said.

Waste Management Inc. said a lawsuit that had involved the company and a Harris County, Texas, Superfund waste pit site located on the San Jacinto River has been resolved with a $29.2 million settlement.

Houston-based Waste Management said that to avoid further litigation costs it was pleased to see Harris County and the state of Texas’ lawsuit against McGinnis Industrial Maintenance Corp. (MIMC), a Waste Management subsidiary, resolved. The settlement dismisses the government claims against Waste Management of Texas Inc., the company said in a news release.

The waste pits are a legacy issue for Waste Management from the 1960s with MIMC. The pits were constructed for the disposal of pulp and paper mill waste. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) named it a Superfund site in 2008.

Waste Management said before the trial the court removed the company from the case. It previously accrued for substantially all of the $29.2 million.

“We remain focused on the remediation of the site and maintain our active participation in the very structured and well-defined EPA process, established to evaluate and determine the appropriate remedy for the site,” Waste Management said.