World

Illinois Gas Company In Hot Water

September 6, 2000 / 1:11 PM EDT / AP

The state of Illinois has sued a gas company in an attempt to pressure the utility to speed inspections of more than 200,000 homes that may have been contaminated by mercury.

Nicor Gas has been scrambling to inspect homes since learning in July that a contractor hired to update its gas meters may have spilled small amounts of mercury while removing old gas pressure regulators. Mercury is a toxic substance that can damage the kidneys and brain.

Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan and prosecutors in two counties are asking a Cook County circuit judge to force Nicor to immediately notify all homes, scrap yards and other businesses that may have mercury contamination.

"Every time we turn around, there's another problem," Ryan said. "We think we have to take the next step."

Nicor officials said they were disappointed with the lawsuit but would continue to cooperate with officials.

As of Tuesday, the company said it had inspected 618 homes, and 66 tested positive for mercury.

The lawsuit would force Nicor to abide by a schedule set up by authorities for identifying and cleaning contaminated homes. It also would require the company to pay for health screenings and set up a court fund to repay residents for relocation or repairs.

Named in the suit are Naperville-based Nicor and two contractors that also removed regulators in homes where mercury was detected, according to the lawsuit.

Nicor serves 1.9 million customers in northern Illinois.