PACE union files lawsuit against Conti Carbon over alleged environmental violations

AMARILLO, Texas (June 25)—The union representing workers at two of Continental Carbon Co.'s carbon black plants filed a lawsuit against the company June 21, alleging violations of federal hazardous waste laws at the firm's Sunray, Texas, site. The action was filed in federal court in Amarillo by the Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union. The suit claims Continental Carbon's violations pose an "imminent and substantial endangerment to public health, employees, firefighters and the environment." The union had filed a "Notice of Intent to File Suit" regarding the Sunray plant in February. Legal action for alleged environmental violations at the company's Ponca City, Okla., carbon black plant may be forthcoming, the union said. About 85 hourly workers represented by PACE have been locked out in Ponca City for more than a year.