Named in the suit are Prime Tanning of Jefferson City, Missouri, Prime Tanning Co. Inc, Berwick, Maine, National Beef Leathers, Clayton, Missouri and Rick Ream of St Joseph, Missouri.
So far eight plaintiffs have filed against Prime Tanning and National Beef Leathers since April 22. The cases allege that the tanning operation in St Joseph spread sludge on farmers land east of St Joseph that contained dangerous levels of chromium VI, a known carcinogen, in a byproduct of the tanning operation that Prime Tanning says is a viable fertilizer.
The US EPA are currently in the process of analysing samples from the farmland alleged to contain the toxic substance and National Beef Leathers have suspended further loads of tannery sludge for use on farmland.
