Press "Enter" to skip to content

Posts published in “Day: October 24, 2013”

County Attorney Ryan’s billion dollar San Jacinto River dioxin lawsuit moved back to state court

October 24, 2013

Harris County and the State of Texas won a ruling from Federal District Judge Lee Rosenthal last week that helps clear the way for a trial of the County’s billion dollar environmental penalty case against Waste Management, International Paper and McGinnis Industrial Services.

Judge Rosenthal sent the case back to the state court for a trial before a jury made up of Harris County residents.

Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan filed the lawsuit in 2010 in state district court seeking civil penalties for the dioxin contamination caused by paper manufacturing and paper mill waste disposal practices dating back to the 1960s. The lawsuit claims that Champion Paper disposed of hundreds of thousands of gallons of contaminated waste in unlined pits just north of the IH-10 East bridge and along the west bank of the San Jacinto River in east Harris County The site is currently the focus of an EPA Superfund clean-up. International Paper and Waste Management sought to transfer the case to federal court in August of this year.

The opinion states: “This case arises out of the effects on the San Jacinto River of a former hazardous dump site located in Harris County, Texas. In December 2011, Harris County sued the former site owners, operators, and users, as well as their successors: McGinnes Industrial Maintenance Coroporation; Waste Management, Inc.; Waste Management of Texas; International Paper Company; and Champion International Corporation. Harris County alleged multiple violations of Texas state law from the discharge of dioxin and other hazardous wastes into the San Jacinto River from 1967 through 2008.”

Harris County is represented by Vince Ryan, Harris County Attorney; Terry O’Rourke, and Rock Owens of the Office of the Harris County Attorney; and the Houston law firm of Connelly · Baker · Wotring LLP.

Crosby RR Overpass completed

October 24, 2013

The 18 months of construction have concluded. The overpass was first opened on Wednesday Oct. 16 as traffic was diverted to the overpass to finsih work on Kernohan and Oak Streets. All beems were in place over a month ago. In spite of opposition from varied sources and windmills of rumors about shutting down access from Huffman, the project continued with amendments such as lights to stop traffic to allow ambulances to exit their station. David Boehm of NGB Constructors spoke of the challenges persented by the project, the thrill of completion, his company’s positive impression of the community and apperciaton of being asigned the project. Quincy Allen, TXDoT, P.E. Deputy District Engineer for the Houston District spoke next with much wit aand enthusiasm for a job well done. With Mr. Allen were Adam Galland, Allen’s Assistant John Elam the Area engineer and Danny Perez Public Information Officer all of TXDoT. Wayne Smith talked of his impression of Crosby being forward looking and of his interest in infrastructure.