Glynn Environmental Coalition
P. O. Box 2443
Brunswick, Georgia 31521    

March 14, 2005  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information contact:
Daniel E. Parshley
Phone:  O-912-466-0934
Email: gec@darientel.net 

Chemicals Entering Drinking Water Aquifer at LCP Chemicals Superfund Site

    Attempts by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA-EPD) to get U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) action to stop leakage of chemicals into the drinking water aquifer have not been successful.   The problem was identified in 2000 when mercury was detected in a sampling well.  Since then, the list of chemicals in the drinking water aquifer has expanded to include arsenic and chromium. 

   During the operation of the LCP Chemicals plant, large amounts of caustic brine with a pH above 13 leaked into the ground, which literally dissolved the soil under the production buildings.  It is thought that the caustic brine is responsible for dissolving the sandstone layer about 50 feet below ground, allowing chemicals to leak into the drinking water aquifer.  The GA-EPD noted, “Several aquifers, known to be sources of drinking water, are located below this sandstone.”

    The problem of chemical leaking into drinking water supplies appears to have been going on for many years now with no action by the EPA.  “Based on the four sampling events for the vertical groundwater monitoring wells and three sampling events for the horizontal wells, we conclude that the caustic brine pool completed its passage through the cemented sandstone between 1996 and 2000,” concluded the GA-EPD.  “Leakage through the sandstone appears to be ongoing.”

    Even though the GA-EPD requested quick action in July of 2004, the EPA has taken no action.  As noted by the GA-EPD, “The longer leakage across the sandstone is allowed to occur, the more difficult cleanup of this site will become.” Interim measures to prevent continued leakage are time-critical so that additional aquifers are not impacted.”

    The suggested course of action by the GA-EPD is to install recovery wells in the caustic brine pool to reverse the hydraulic gradient so chemicals can not continue to move down into drinking water aquifers.  Another consideration was the cost of the cleanup if no action is taken.  “The difficulty and cost of remediating deeper aquifers tends to increase non-linearly with depth,” noted the GA-EPD.

    The EPA’s history of timely action to address groundwater threats at Superfund Sites is not stellar.  In the case of the Woolfolk Superfund Site in Fort Valley, Georgia, the EPA procrastinated until drinking water wells were contaminated and the chemicals had spread over a large area.

    “The future economic development of Glynn County will be dependent on clean water,” said Glynn Environmental Coalition President Frank Lea.  “Currently, there is a moratorium on permitting any new deep wells, which means we will be increasingly dependent upon shallower aquifers for water resources.   The inaction of the EPA is a threat we cannot ignore.  Both our health and economic future depend on stopping contamination of our drinking water aquifers by the LCP Chemicals Superfund Site.”

    Citizens may learn more, including ideas for responding to this problem, by contacting the Glynn Environmental Coalition at 466-0934.

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