$7.5 Million Settlement Offered in North Carolina Plant Fire

A $7.5 million settlement has been proposed for Apex, N.C. residents who evacuated homes and businesses when a chemical waste depot exploded two years ago.

Attorneys for the residents and EQ Industrial Services outlined the settlement in federal court in Raleigh on Oct. 28.

The News & Observer reported that each household that evacuated and filed a claim would be paid about $720, minus any money they received from EQ for the evacuation.

Businesses would receive a maximum of $2,000 if they could prove economic loss.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs said about 4,200 households and 450 businesses would be eligible.

U.S. Magistrate James Gates did not rule on the settlement Tuesday.

Federal investigators say mislabeled oxygen generators probably fueled the fire.
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Information from: The News & Observer,
http://www.newsobserver.com