Document YDjYBj317kx6vzv0qyxq6zQEE

SFP 21 1976 Georgians,'Bamans] Sue Over Pollution ATLANTA (UPI) - A poup of Oorglt uxl Atabomt ralfaiu (900 mlfflofl IowkiIi |Mnn theWMRu iecrieas. charging the firm "rt:kletely" caused PCB pollution of the Coou River. Tie clan action suit tiled Monday on behalf of river property owners, busiiiesset and fishermen charges GE "willfully, wantonly. negligently or reckleesly allowed and caused PCB to be released Into a stream that leads directly Into the Coosa River." TV suit also named theJjmmmm at a defendant because ther&m sold the pollutant to GE. Georgia officials two weeks ago halted commercial fishing m the Coosa after high levels of FCBs -- polychlorinated biphenyls -- were found In flab caught there. The ban later was extended to two northwest Georgia tributaries of the river. A OE plant near Rome usee PCBe tn the manufacture of electric transformers. W.R. Buchanan, a plant official, said PCBs were used to make many products at the plant a few years ago. "Until 1972. there were any number of uses of PCB. It was used In lubt Icatlon oil that might have been dtspoeed M and ul timately found Ha way Into the water system." he said. He said since the firm still uses PCBs. It ks a "naluial target" for lawsuits. William G Unham. the Atlanta at torney representing the river residents, said since the fishing bnn "the place is ghost town all up and down the river." He said some poor residents "literally depend on catching fish In the river Just to eat." TV suit asks 1900.000 In damages to be distributed among as many is 1.000 people who may have been adversely affected by tV pollution. Unham said V would attempt to prove Monsanto did not fully Inform GE of ttte effects of PCBs. f . SFP 2 1 1976 Suit Charges River Polluted By Utility ATLANTA (AP) - Businessmen, property owners and fishermen have filed a $500 million lawsuit against mThwRH HIMI and the ***** charging (hat (My poffiitefl the Coosa River. TV class action stilt, filed In U.S, District Court here Monday, charges General Electric with poisoning fish by dumping polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) into a tributary of the river. Monsanto Co: sold tV chemical to General Elec tric, the suit aays. Two weeks ago state of ficials ordered a halt to commercial fishing In the river because the fish con tained teetffk of PCBs above the limit recommended for human consumption, by the federal Pood^Spd .Drug Administration.' A spokesman for General Electric defied tool thg firm was responsible for fhs fish contamination. W.R. Buchanan,' manager of employe and community relations, said that because General Electric still uses PCBs. .ft is a "natural target lor anypng" who waiits to file suli , The use of PCBs has been restricted in regent years, but "will: 1973, there were any humber of uses of PCB." Buchanan said, 'it was used In Hlbneating oil that might have bam disposed of and uttimrtaiy found (ta way into the water system." Wuftoth G-. Lenhem, an Atlanta, attorney represen ting the plaintiffs who are from both Georgia and AlabaiDlit Jsid V will at tempt tp prove that Monsanto did not (folly inform General Electric of the dangers of PCB. . / PCBs .are used. .in the manufacture of .jdffirontc conppnepts sndvepa cause skin eruption*, tyumln* eye dischargoslTM..4Wl1lng of eyelids. . i MONS 036795