A lawsuit between Boeing and the federal government was settled today. Boeing sued the federal government over pollution at the company’s old aircraft plant in Wichita.
The lawsuit was filed on Wednesday and sought to recover unspecified past and future costs for cleaning up soil and groundwater at the former Boeing aircraft plant in southeast Wichita. In the suit, Boeing argued it was entitled to recover costs for pollution associated with a time when the government owned the site, as well as a time between 1940 and 1979 when the government was actively involved in manufacturing activities.
The suit says that during the federal government’s ownership and operation of facilities at the site, hazardous substances including volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, were released into the environment resulting in contamination of soil and groundwater.
A representative from Boeing says both parties agreed to settle just a day after the lawsuit was filed. The settlement will be done by way of a consent decree, which orders the United States to pay Boeing $32,350,000 without an admission of guilt or liability.
"We are very pleased Boeing and the government were able to work together cooperatively to resolve this matter without litigation," the company said in a statement.
In the suit, Boeing alleged the past and future cleanup costs are necessary to address a threat to human health and the environment. The company did not release further information about the settlement or the cleanup.
Original story from the AP:
Boeing is suing the federal government over pollution at the company's old aircraft plant in Wichita.
A lawsuit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Kansas seeks to recover unspecified past and future costs for cleaning up soil and groundwater contamination at the facility.
The Justice Department had no immediate comment on the litigation.
Boeing contends it is entitled to recover costs for pollution associated with a period when the government owned the site, as well as a time between 1940 and 1979 when the government was actively involved in manufacturing activities.
Its lawsuit argues the government controlled military aircraft production and waste handling through regulations, contractual requirements, military specifications and inspections.
The company says the cleanup costs are necessary to address a threat to human health or the environment.
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