By AP/KWMU
Hartford, Ill. – Property owners in Hartford, Ill. are suing oil companies over a four million gallon pool of gasoline under their village.
The lawsuit seeks compensation from Premcor Refining Group and Apex Oil Company for the diminished value of their properties. It also seeks to make the defendants fund a health-monitoring program.
Residents have reported fumes from gas lake for more than 30 years.
In 2002, the state of Illinois detected dangerous levels of several hydrocarbons in some basements.
Five residents are named as plaintiffs in the lawsuit. Their attorney, Christopher Dysart, has asked the court to certify the case as "class-action." That would expand the suit to about 650 property owners.
A similar lawsuit filed last year in Madison County has been transferred to federal court.