WAUKEGAN, Ill. (AP) – Illinois and Lake County are suing the owner of a Chicago-area silicone factory that exploded last month, seeking to force the company to identify the nature and extent of chemical pollution in the area and limit the environmental impact of the deadly blast.
The Lake County News-Sun reports that Attorney General Kwame Raoul said Friday that the lawsuit seeks an injunction to require AB Specialty Silicones factory to immediately secure the Waukegan site and ensure all remaining chemicals are removed.
The lawsuit alleges the May 3 explosion released an unknown amount of chemicals into the environment. Four factory employees were killed in the blast.
AB Specialty officials say they are shocked and disappointed by the lawsuit and that the company has been cooperating with the cleanup effort.
