Waste Management Will Intervene In Arkansas Lawsuit

Date: September 3, 2003

Source: News Room

A Washington County (Ark.) Circuit Court judge has granted Waste Management Inc. permission to intervene in a lawsuit that challenges a state agency order last year that reopened the company's Tontitown landfill. In April, dozens of residents near the landfill filed the lawsuit, seeking a hearing before the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission. If the residents win a new hearing, Waste Management could potentially face more fines and penalties. Therefore, it should be permitted to intervene in the case in order to protect its own interests, according to Circuit Judge Kim Smith. The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality closed the landfill in April 2002 after a former landfill manager reported a cave-in had occurred at the site. In order to reopen the landfill in August 2002, Waste Management and ADEQ signed a consent order stipulating the implementation of new regulations and payment of penalties totaling $300,000.
More information: www.wm.com.

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