Cleanup Starts in Rhode Island Neighborhood With Blue Soil
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A Rhode Island neighborhood so polluted that the soil in residents' backyards is blue is getting cleaned up.
The project starting Monday will remove the soil polluted with arsenic, cyanide, lead and other contaminants to a depth of two feet from about 100 properties. Houston-based Southern Union agreed to pay $11.5 million for the cleanup to end a lawsuit filed by residents.
The contamination was caused by the Fall River Gas Co., now owned by Southern Union, decades ago. It was discovered in 2002.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Since then, residents have been unable to build on their property or dig in their yards, and many complained they couldn't let their children play outside or get loans to repair or upgrade their homes.