NL Industries Avoids Baltimore Superfund Dump Cleanup Claims

NL Industries Inc. can avoid a lawsuit seeking $4.8 million in cleanup costs for a Superfund site in Baltimore, but it’s barred from recouping attorneys’ fees and other costs, a federal court in Maryland ruled.

The 68th Street Site Work Group sued NL Industries, 7-Eleven, Chiquita Brands LLC, and about 150 other companies in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland over their involvement in generating or transporting substances to the 68th Street Dump.

The work group told the court it has evidence NL Industries’ predecessor was the most significant transporter of waste to the site. However, ...