VICTIM VICTORY IN FLORIDA SUIT

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@igc.org>]

NAVY COMPENSATION ORDERED AT HIPPS ROAD

 Residents of the Jacksonville, Florida neighborhood built on 
the site of a former Navy landfill have won what may be a 
precedent-setting victory. A Federal judge ruled last week that the 
Navy would have to pay $1.7 million to eleven of the neghbors, 
including the survivors of the late activist, Yvonne Woodman. In 
addition, 75 additional people may be able to claim compensation 
under the judge's ruling.
 The landfill, a Superfund site commonly known as Hipps 
Road, received toxic wastes from area Navy bases in the 1960's. 
After a subdivision was built on over the dump, residents drank and 
used contaminated water and were otherwise exposed to the wastes. 
They reported a variety of health problems apparently associated 
with the exposure. Many of their houses have since been 
abandoned.
 In 1991, Waste Management Inc., which took over the 
dumping company responsible for the landfill, settled with residents 
for a total of $8.5 million. 
(Source: Florida Times-Union, January 25, 1995)
 I know of no other site where the armed services have 
directly been ordered to pay compensation to people harmed by 
their environmental practices.