BOONE COUNTY (WREX) -
A damaged manufacturing plant near Belvidere will stay shutdown until state regulators says it's safe to operate.
That's the settlement announced today following the 2009 fatal explosion at NDK Crystal. The blast sent debris flying which struck a truck driver near the Belvidere Oasis from Indiana and killed him.
Before reopening, The Illinois Fire Marshall must inspect the machinery at the plant. NDK also must file the U.S. Chemical Safety Board's final report. That investigation is ongoing. "This is the culmination of many months of discussion and some strict oversight on what the company is doing," says The Illinois Attorney General's Spokesperson, Scott Mulford.
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency reviewed the site after the explosion. Attorney General Lisa Madigan says reports show no contamination problems.
"We have proven that there was no environmental harm done as a result of the explosion two years ago. At some point, litigation becomes a nuisance and it becomes expensive and parties enter into settlements just to put it behind them and move on," Says NDK's Attorney, Gary Vist.
NDK also must pay a $39,000 civil penalty and $5,000 in reimbursement costs to Boone County and IEPA's hazardous waste fund.
