The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has officially designated perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), two prevalent ‘forever chemicals,’ as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). This move sets the stage for the agency to enforce cleanup measures on polluters who have released these toxic chemicals into the environment.
A federal jury has found BNSF Railway partially responsible for the deaths of two individuals who developed asbestos-related illnesses after being exposed to contaminated vermiculite shipped through Libby, Montana. The jury awarded compensatory damages of $4 million to each family. This is the first case to go to trial in numerous lawsuits against BNSF related to asbestos exposure in Libby. Attorneys for the victims argued that the railroad knew about the dangers of asbestos-tainted vermiculite but failed to act, while BNSF’s defense claimed they were unaware of the health hazards and were obligated to ship the material. Experts believe that people previously exposed to asbestos in Libby will continue to develop diseases for years to come.
