Neighbors living near an Owens Corning shingle factory in north Minneapolis are suing the company, alleging that years of odor and air pollution from the facility have made it harder to breathe, spend time outside, and welcome guests to their homes.
Here’s what to know
According to the Sahan Journal, five north Minneapolis residents are named as the initial plaintiffs in the federal case. The suit is intended to cover people living within three-quarters of a mile of the asphalt roofing shingle plant in the Shingle Creek neighborhood.
In June, the EPA said the plant was violating the Clean Air Act because its sulfur dioxide emissions were too high. The agency said odor complaints from nearby residents led inspectors to the site.
The lawsuit says the odors and pollution have interfered with residents’ normal use of their property. It accuses the company of private nuisance, public nuisance, and negligence in the way the facility was operated…