Federal court won’t dismiss lawsuit against Exxon

Exxon trial for air pollution will move forward
A view of the Exxon Mobil refinery in Baytown, Texas September 15, 2008.

The Associated Press
By Staff
June 8, 2011

A federal court will allow environmental groups to pursue a lawsuit that accuses the largest U.S. refinery of violating federal air pollution laws thousands of times in the past five years.

HOUSTON — A federal court will allow environmental groups to pursue a lawsuit that accuses the largest U.S. refinery of violating federal air pollution laws thousands of times in the past five years.

The U.S. District Court Southern District on Tuesday dismissed a request by Exxon Mobil Corp. to dismiss the lawsuit regarding its Texas facility.

The lawsuit filed by Sierra Club and Environment Texas says Irving-based Exxon’s Baytown refinery released 8 million pounds of illegal pollution, including cancer-causing toxins, without facing proper fines or being forced to fix equipment.

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