[CPEO-BIF] TCE spells tax relief in Wright Township, PA

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

[Owners of property impacted by toxics from other properties frequently 
seek tax relief, but it is rarely granted. Does anyone know of other 
examples similar to this one? - LS]


County grants tax relief through 2010

It doesn't change what has happened to them, some Mountain Top 
homeowners have said, but it's a good start.

Wilkes-Barre Citizen's Voice (PA)
May 8, 2007

Thirty-seven Wright Township homeowners, whose properties were damaged 
by a chemical contamination, got some tax relief from the Luzerne County 
Board of Assessment Appeals. The board recently gave the homeowners an 
abatement of a third of their property taxes through 2010. The board 
gave the homeowners an abatement for 2007 last year because of decreased 
value in their homes from the contamination.

The board's decision crosses all local property taxing authorities, 
including municipalities and the school district.

The homeowners have been fighting for help since it was discovered in 
2004 that Foster Wheeler contaminated their wells and properties with 
trichloroethylene, a chemical used as a de-greaser and cleaning solvent. 
TCE has been linked to cancer as well as kidney, liver and nerve damage. 
The homeowners have filed a class-action lawsuit against Foster Wheeler 
for damages.


...

For the entire article, see
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18312885&BRD=2259&PAG=461&dept_id=571464&rfi=6

--


Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org


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