Oklahoma residents file lawsuit against Michelin

Former and current residents of a housing subdivision in Miami, Oklahoma, have filed a lawsuit against Michelin North America Inc., Greenville, South Carolina, and its parent company B.F. Goodrich Co., a report by the Miami News-Record says. The 32-page complaint was filed by 112 plaintiffs, including six children, June 13.

The report says B.F. Goodrich was aware that hazardous materials were present at a nearby closed manufacturing facility but did not clean up or properly dispose of the materials, causing them to leak into the soil and groundwater at the Miami Heights subdivision. The claim says the companies violated the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986.

Chemical used at the plant include Benzene and Naphtha, the report says. They were stored in underground tanks, rooftop tanks, roof silos and 55-gallon drums. More than 1.5 million gallons of fuel oil were also stored on-site in above-ground storage tanks.

Benzene was also dumped throughout the site, the report says.

The residents are seeking $25,000 and up to $75,000 per day for the days a safety plan was not implemented, the report says. This is the third case that is filed against the site—the first two are a groundwater case and an injunction lawsuit from 2016.