The agreement filed today in U.S. District Court in Lexington settles federal claims that DuPont violated federal environmental laws at its Wurtland, Ky., plant. In August 1995, the DuPont facility released more than 23,800 gallons of a sulfuric acid solution into the air over a four-hour period, creating a chemical cloud. Local authorities evacuated more than 1,000 residents from their homes, and several people underwent treatment for burns to their eyes, nasal passages and lungs. DuPont was unable to stop the release, or to minimize it in any way. The Justice Department, on behalf of the EPA, sued DuPont in September 1997, alleging that DuPont failed to maintain a safe facility as required by the Clean Air Act.
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Under today's settlement, DuPont has agreed to upgrade the emergency notification systems for the 10 counties surrounding the Wurtland plant.