$5B Kerr McGee deal: Some people say they are still waiting for money

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – There’s not much left of what people on the north side of Columbus once called Moss Tie, now known as Kerr McGee.

Along 14th Avenue, the creosote plant is long gone. But the damage from the contamination has taken years to fix.

The chemical that was used at the plant to weatherproof railroad ties and telephone poles soaked into the ground.

It was in the air and the groundwater.

And some of the people who live nearby said their yards were still oily on rainy days.

A superfund established years ago is what the EPA uses to clean up the site, bit by bit.

Eight years ago, Kerr McGee and attorneys for the people in this neighborhood reached a $5 billion deal.

The money was set aside to pay families for chronic illnesses, rare cancers, and mounting medical bills. Some people said they were still waiting for the money.

And, there has been slow movement on plans to rebuild the neighborhood.

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