Create a free Manufacturing.net account to continue

2 Oil Companies Pay $35M In MTBE Suit

New Hampshire's attorney general says two oil companies are paying the state a total of $35 million to settle pending claims from a lawsuit alleging that they added MTBE to gasoline, knowing that it would contaminate ground water supplies. The state, which sued the companies and others in 2003, contends they knew they were supplying a product with unique hazards.

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) -- New Hampshire's attorney general says two oil companies are paying the state a total of $35 million to settle pending claims from a lawsuit alleging that they added MTBE to gasoline, knowing that it would contaminate ground water supplies.

The state, which sued the companies and others in 2003, contends they knew they were supplying a product with unique hazards — specifically, that MTBE travels father and is more difficult to clean up than other contaminants.

Shell Oil Company and Sunoco Inc. agreed to the settlement.

A trial against remaining defendants is scheduled to start in Concord on Jan. 7, 2013. They are Exxon/Mobil Corporation, Irving Oil Co., Citgo Petroleum, ConocoPhillips Co., and Vitol S.A.

The state is seeking damages to perform comprehensive investigation and remediation of MTBE contamination sites.

More in Operations