Rockton residents could soon receive part of $94M settlement from Chemtool

ROCKTON, Ill. (WTVO) — Residents near Rockton’s Chemtool plant could soon receive their share of a 94-million-dollar settlement with the company.

A final approval hearing was held on Friday afternoon after the courts gave a preliminary green light in May.

If approved, residents can expect to receive money as early as November.

Those within a three-mile radius of the plant could benefit and those most impacted will receive $25,000.

The explosion at Chemtool happened on June 14th, 2021, when a contractor hit a pipe spilling mineral oil that caught fire causing dozens of explosions. Smoke was sent sky-high and could be seen for miles.

The fire burned for several days and everyone within a mile of the plant was forced to evacuate their homes for four days.

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