Brunswick's former manufactured gas plant site is in line for more cleanup.

The site, located at 2128 Newcastle St., was operated in the early part of the 20th century as a plant for manufacturing gas by a predecessor of Georgia Power Co. and Atlanta Gas Light Co.

Remnants of coal tar in the soil and groundwater at the site landed it on the state Environmental Protection Division's Hazardous Site Inventory, and the two companies collaborated on a soil cleanup effort at the site in January 2000.

But the EPD says more must be done. Tests have shown the site's groundwater to contain levels of benzene and naphthalene that are above state standards.

Benzene and naphthalene are carcinogens.

John Sell, spokesman for Georgia Power Co., said the 2000 cleanup proved insufficient in addressing the issue of the contaminants to the site's groundwater.

"We had hoped that the groundwater would clean itself up naturally with the soil contaminants removed," Sell said. "While that has happened to some extent, it has not happened enough to meet state standards."

The two companies have formulated a new plan to treat the site's groundwater.

Sell said the project, scheduled to begin in January, will involve removing soil with residual coal tar materials from beneath the site's water table to bring the groundwater in line with state standards.

The project will likely excavate soil up to 36 feet below the surface.

The previous cleanup effort addressed soil that was above the site's water table.

Daniel Parshley, project manager with the Glynn Environmental Coalition, said the nonprofit environmental group has good relations with Georgia Power Co. and that the company has been diligent in monitoring and addressing the site's problems.

"I'm confident that if this isn't the final fix, they'll find one," said Parshley.

"They've done a really good investigation of that site ... so they've got a very good idea of what it looks like underground."

Sell said the company does not believe the site poses an immediate risk to human health or to the environment, but added that bringing the site in line with state safety standards is important for any future use of the property.

The site belonged to the Salvation Army from 2001 until last November, when it was sold to private owners.

The public is invited to comment on the proposed groundwater treatment plan through July 24.