‘Ottawa’ Mississippi Mills Residents Sue NRC for $40M Over Water Contamination
Homeowners near the National Research Council’s lab in Mississippi Mills are organizing a class action lawsuit against the NRC, claiming extensive damage to their properties by contamination.
There could be as many as 70 households involved if a judge certifies the class action, says lawyer Michael Hebert, who represents the homeowners.
They are claiming $40 million in damages to their property. They aren’t making claims about damage to health.
The claim comes from the underground spread of chemicals used in experiments at the National Fire Lab, a group of chemicals called polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS.
PFAS spread through the groundwater. Homeowners are now receiving free bottled water from NRC, and many have filtering systems on their taps, also from NRC.
NRC acknowledges the chemicals come from their lab.
Hebert practises environmental law, and he said the first step is to get documents about the contamination from NRC.