Document 0d2bLQ9MnKZkwv9mmoJRrjvd

JO-'" n> tpt* `tt, 11 1139/7D6 mSA~e Suit charges firm with pollution AAtTlLaAnNtTaA ((UUPP1l)) -- A*roup ol Oor} Alebema resident* ha* (lied > MOD mUHwtJ?"-*?.11. nnaleeloggwlliieggdeenn.aMttnllyydl coarusreedckPleCeBeltyo be released into a stream that lead? directly into the Coosa River/' The suit also named U>e tye*MMei as a defendant "roekVomly" because the firm told the pollutloi.olthoCooMW'*! pollutant to GE. The clew actio*1 *u^ - Georgia officials two Moidey on behalf of river nrtSerty oOmert, b'Bkne*JS weeks Ago halted com* mercial flying in the Cbosa SlSfiSwroion after hlgn levels of PCBa -- "willfully, wontonly, polychlorinated biphenyls -- were found in fish (taught there. The ban later was extended to two northwest Georgia tributaries of the rivAer.GE plant naear Rome uses PCBs in the manufacture df electric transformers. ' V W.R. Buchanan, a plant official,said PCBs were used to make many products at the plant a few wart ago. "Until 1993, Um were any number of usea df PCB- It was used in hxkjfcstlon oil that might have been disposed of and ultimately found Hs way into tyie water system," he arid. He said since the firm still uses PCBs, it is a "Mtuta) targst" for lawsuits. Vnittam C. Lapham, the Atlanta attorney representing the river residents, said since the fishing ben "the place it a ghost town all up and down the river." .. He said some poor residents "Uteraiiy depend on catching fish lb the river I' just to eat/1. SFP 21 1976 Poffunon Suit Filed Against GE ATLANTA fUPI) - A group of Georgia and Alabama residents have filed $609 million lawsuit against the ~ GtBJMMNWIfflHto., charging the firm "recklessly" caused PCB pollution of the Coosa River. Tbs class action suit filed Monday on behalf of river property owners, businesses and fishermen charges GE "Willfully, wantonly, negligently or recklessly allowed and caused PCB to be released into a stream that leads directly Into Qve Coosa River." The suit also named the M as a defendant because the Rim sold the pollutant to GE. Georgia officials two weeks ago haltedcommercial fishing . in the Coosa after high levels of j PCBs--polychlorinatedbiphe- t nyls -- were found in Rah caught there. The ban later was extended to two northwest I George tributaries of the river, | A GE plaid near Rome uses PCBs in the manufacture of electric transformers. W.R. Buchanan, a plant official, eald PCBs were used to make many products at the plant a few yean ago. "Until 1979, there were any Mimber of uses of PCB. It was used in lubrication ofl that might have been disposed of and ultimately found lla wey into the water system," he ^(d. 036 797 mqns