Those
owed money by Freedom Industries had their opportunity to question Freedom
President Gary Southern and other company executives in U.S. Bankruptcy
Court on Tuesday.
The
hearing was the latest for Freedom as part of its reorganization under Chapter
11 bankruptcy, though company officials have acknowledged Freedom’s days
are numbered.
The
company filed for the bankruptcy protection eight days after Jan. 9 chemical
leak at its Elk River facility that contaminated the tap water from West
Virginia American Water running into 100,000 homes and businesses in parts of
nine West Virginia counties.
“This
has been an extremely traumatic experience for everyone,” said Southern,
following Tuesday’s hearing outside of the Charleston Federal Courthouse.
“We’re
absolutely committed to the people of West
Virginia
As part of an agreement
with the state Department of Environmental Protection, work to dismantle the
Freedom Industries’ site where the leak happened must begin by next month.
