Environmental groups and a New Jersey senator have appealed a judge's ruling that they can't intervene in the state's $225 million settlement with Exxon Mobil over contaminated gas stations and other sites.
A Democratic state senator and environmental groups cannot intervene in the state's $225 million settlement with Exxon Mobil over contaminated gas stations and other sites, a New Jersey judge ruled Friday.
A New Jersey judge approved a $225 million deal Tuesday between Gov. Chris Christie's administration and ExxonMobil over dozens of polluted sites and nearly 2,000 retail gas stations.
A judge on Monday rejected an effort by environmental groups and a Democratic state senator to become a party to the state's pollution lawsuit against ExxonMobil, saying that they already had their chance to speak up over a proposed $225 million settlement.
The price tag for cleaning up two petroleum refineries in northern New Jersey will cost Exxon Mobil much more than the $225 million settlement brokered by Gov. Chris Christie's administration, but critics of the proposal say it could be years until it's clear how much the company eventually will have to pay.