Wheelabrator settles whistleblower lawsuit in Massachusetts-Jan Schlichtmann

Wheelabrator Technologies Inc., the operator of three municipal waste incinerators in Massachusetts, has agreed to pay $7.5 million to settle a state lawsuit alleging that it broke environmental laws, more than a year and a half after the complaints of employee whistleblowers triggered a state investigation of the incinerators.

"Civil Action" attorney Jan Schlichtmann who represented the whistleblowers said "This is a great example of how these laws are supposed to work. "

Though Wheelabrator cooperated with the stae investigation the company did not admit any wrongdoing related to the contamination.

Attorney General Martha Coakley said that Wheelabrator violated the Clean Water Act and the Wetlands Protection Act by improperly disposing of contaminated sludge and waste water at its plants in Millbury and Saugus and that it violated the Hazardous Waste Management Act by improperly treating and disposing of ash at its plants in Saugus and North Andover.