CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - The company at the center of West Virginia’s chemical spill says costs of $1.9 million accumulated since the January leak “appear to be large,” but are justified.
Freedom Industries Chief Restructuring Officer Mark Welch wrote in bankruptcy filings that despite the price tag, the court should let Freedom make the payments through March 31 for contractors. The costs include environmental cleanup, legal fees, consulting and more.
Freedom filed for bankruptcy eight days after its tank leaked chemicals into the water supply for 300,000 people. Dozens of businesses and individuals sued Freedom, but the lawsuits are frozen during bankruptcy proceedings. Restaurants filed many of the suits, claiming they lost profits amid a water-use ban lasting four to 10 days.
Welch wrote that some contracted work helped minimize other costs.
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