Knox County was awarded over $2 million dollars from a settlement relating to the PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls) chemical contamination of the Fort Loudon Reservoir and Lower Clinch Reservoir.
A class action lawsuit against Monsato, a company responsible for PCB contamination decades ago, has reached a settlement with over $500 million going to several municipalities participating
in the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program where creek and/or lake sediment has been contaminated.
“We are excited about the opportunities this money gives us to protect our waterways and our citizens. We were contaminated through no fault of our own, but are determined to fix the
problem,” says Knox County Engineering and public Works Director, Jim Snowden.
Funds are intended to go towards the protection of local waterways and the mitigation and monitoring of PCBs. Knox County has established a Stormwater Fund for the money to be used on education, monitoring, and implementation of projects to protect local waterways.
