Pennsylvania is suing oil companies over the groundwater pollution caused by leaks and spills of gasoline containing the additive MTBE.
The offices of Attorney General Kathleen Kane and Gov. Tom Corbett said lawsuits were filed Thursday in Philadelphia city courts.
The lawsuits come in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court decision in April not to overturn a $105 million verdict against Exxon Mobil for contaminating New York City's groundwater.
Vermont filed a similar MTBE lawsuit earlier this month and New Hampshire last year won a $236 million verdict against Exxon Mobil.
Pennsylvania is seeking to recover millions of state taxpayer dollars spent to clean up MTBE, as well as damages and penalties for marketing MTBE despite the oil companies' knowing it was a potent threat to ground water.
