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Glynn County was assured that no chemicals were entering our drinking water
aquifer from the LCP Chemicals Superfund Site. Once horizontal monitoring
wells were installed below the layer protecting the aquifer in 2002,
sampling data told a different story. The 2005 sampling result show the
trickle of toxic chemicals has increase to a hemorrhage and levels are
skyrocketing.
Massive amounts of mercury, chromium, arsenic, and caustic brine were
released into the ground at the LCP Chemicals Site. The pH (a measure of
acidity to alkalinity on a scale of 1 to 14) of the caustic brine in the
groundwater was a very alkaline pH 13. The brine was so strong it actually
dissolved the soil; the confining layer protecting our drinking water
aquifer is suspected of being dissolved also.
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA-EPD) has pled with the EPA
to take action for several years without success. Currently, the EPA is
trying to get Honeywell to take action through legal means, but no action
has been taken to stop the flow of chemicals.
The EPA noted, “Groundwater data collected from 2002 to 2004 documents the
presence of groundwater contamination at the site which, if left
unaddressed, may pose a significant threat to human health and the
environment.” The EPA has also come to the same conclusion the GA-EPD came
to several years ago. “Samples collected from horizontal wells show an
increasing trend of heavy metal concentrations associated with the CBP (Caustic
Brine Pool), in one or more of the horizontal monitoring wells, thus
confirming that the cemented sandstone layer is not effective in preventing
downward migration of contaminants.” The EPA does have the authority to take
action to protect our drinking water. What is unknown is if the EPA has the
will to take action. More than two years have gone by since the GA-EPD
asked the EPA to take decisive action to stop the flow of toxic chemicals
into Glynn County’s drinking water aquifer.
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P. O. Box 2443