Kerr-McGee proposes contamination cleanup

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality is reviewing a plan by Oklahoma City-based Kerr-McGee Chemical Corp. to clean up creosote contamination in Hattiesburg.

The department's approval is all that's needed to settle a 1992 lawsuit the Hattiesburg School District filed against Kerr-McGee, said J.B. Van Slyke, attorney for the school system.

Kerr-McGee presented its cleanup plan to the department Monday.

The school district's lawsuit claimed the Gulf States Creosote plant had contaminated 16th Section school land, Slyke said.

Kerr-McGee is responsible for cleanup because it purchased the plant, Slyke said.

An automobile dealership now occupies the site.

Kerr-McGee spokeswoman Debbie Schramm said that Kerr-McGee never owned or operated the Gulf States site and was now voluntarily taking part in the cleanup. She said the settlement is not an admission of guilt.

Slyke said the district is also seeking $3 million to $4 million in damages because of the land's lost value.

Schramm said any money included in the settlement would be for compensation for use of the property during the cleanup and for future restricted use of the site.

Department attorney Kelly Riley said the company would have to replace some soil, do some work on a ditch and test groundwater for an extended period of time. She said contamination was found in the soil and groundwater, but not in drinking water.

Department officials would not release details of the cleanup plan, citing their review.

Archive ID: 1038725