Residents sue to delay start-up of Bayer's MIC unit

Date:02-11-2011

More then a dozen Kanawha Valley residents filed suit Tuesday afternoon to try to stop Bayer CropScience from restarting the methyl isocyanate unit at its Institute plant until new government safety reviews are completed.

The suit was filed just before the close of business at U.S. District Court in Charleston by local lawyer William V. DePaulo on behalf of 16 residents.

Among other things, the suit asks for a court order to block Bayer from resuming production of MIC until comprehensive plant inspections are conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The suit accuses Bayer of "chronically reckless operation" of the plant and "admitted dishonesty in public communications" with residents of the Kanawha Valley.