NewsOK, the website of the Oklahoman newspaper, is reporting that American Indians owning land and homes around Continental Carbon’s Ponca City, Oklahoma carbon black plant have settled their lawsuit against the plant’s owners for $10.5 million. The suit alleged that the plant was emitting carbon black dust into the surrounding area. The settlement with Continental Carbon Co., a holding company, and its Taiwanese parent company, China Synthetic Rubber Corp., will benefit the Ponca Tribe and about 1,800 other land owners in the area. Attorneys will receive 40% of the settlement plus more than $1.6 million for expenses.
According to the website, about 10,000 other property owners settled a separate lawsuit against Continental Carbon Co. for $800,000. Their attorneys will get 30 percent of the settlement.
Both of these settlements were approved by a federal judge in Oklahoma City on Tuesday. The settlements are not an admission of liability on the part of the plant owners, who alleged in court papers that a ConocoPhillips oil refinery is responsible for the black dust in the area.