A $9 million settlement for some residents of Modesto, Calif., is now official, to compensate them for health problems and property damage reported as a result of the massive tire pile fire near Westley in 1999.
The settlement gained approval in Santa Clara County Superior Court in May; the agreement became final July 7th when a 60-day period for appeals expired.
Attorneys representing more than 10,000 residents negotiated the settlement with CMS Generation Co., one of several defendants in a class-action lawsuit filed after the blaze.
CMS Generation Co. is a subsidiary of Michigan-based CMS Energy Corp. and the former owner of Oxford Tire Recycling of Northern California, which dumped tires at the site. A spokesman for the corporation would not comment Tuesday.
Remaining defendants include Modesto Energy Limited Partnership, rancher Ed Filbin and a trust in his family's name.
Cole declined to discuss any further settlement negotiations. "We're preparing for trial," he said.
Lightning sparked the September 1999 fire, setting off flames in a pile of 6 million tires in a canyon west of Interstate 5. The blaze emitted tons of heavy smoke. The fire burned for 34 days, casting an ashy shadow over much of the valley. Modesto (California) BeeLatest from Recycling Today
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