Fossil fuel trio agrees to $15 million settlement over water pollution allegations

BURRILLVILLE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office announced Monday that three fossil fuel companies have agreed to a multi-million dollar settlement over water pollution allegations.

Shell, Sunoco, and Citgo are set to pay $15 million for their part in polluting groundwater supplies in the the state back in 2001.

According to a federal lawsuit brought by Attorney General Peter Neronha, the fossil fuel trio allegedly polluted groundwater supplies in Rhode Island with a gasoline additive that has been linked to cancer called methyl tertiary-butyl.

“MBTE contamination of public water supplies poses a significant public health and safety risk, one which oil and gas companies knew about well before the public did,” said Neronha.

In 2001, MTBE contaminated Burrillville’s water supply, which forced the closure of  Pascoag’s only well. Residents needed to use store bought water for much of their supply until 2012.

In 2012, the state reached a separate $7 million settlement with Exxon Mobile for $7 million, stemming from a 2001 MTBE contamination of Pascoag’s water supply.

It was found in the water supply forcing the closure of Pascoag’s only well, and residents needed to use store bought water for much of their supply until 2012.