$8.5 Million EPA Superfund Settlement for Landia Pesticide Pollution in Lakeland, Florida

The EPA announced that the Landia Chemical Company Superfund site in Lakeland, Florida will be cleaned up by five companies and two individuals named in an $8.5 million settlement. The settlement will help fund the cleanup of 5 acres of contaminated soil and groundwater exposed to the manufacture of pesticides and other agents by Landia and several other companies involved in the operations at the site between 1940 and 1987.

"These operations resulted in the release of various pesticides, metals, semi-volatile organic compounds and volatile organic compounds into the environment," stated the EPA in a press release yesterday.

In addition to the Landia Chemical Company, Agrico Chemical Company, the defunct Standard Spray and Chemical Company, BASF Sparks LLC, PCS Joint Venture, Ltd., Sylvite Terminal & Distribution LLC, Billy G. Mitchell, and Walter G. Grahn were also named in the Superfund settlement.

The Superfund law requires those responsible for contaminating a particular site to conduct or fund the cleanup. Since the Landia site was added to the EPA's National Priority List—a list of contaminated sites that are deemed to be serious health hazards—the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida finally approved the settlement.

Located at 1405 West Olive Street in Lakeland, Florida, the Landia site received a ranking of 8 out of 10 for overall site hazard in the EPA's Hazardous Ranking System. According to this ranking system, a score of "10" is most hazardous. The Landia site also received a 10 out of 10 for ground water migration.

InjuryBoard.com has the following included on their website:

See your doctor if you live near the Lakeland Landia site and you have experienced serious health problems. In addition, it may be important to contact an attorney who can help you protect your legal rights. Please keep in mind that there may be time limits within which you must commence suit.