Officials fine Griffin factory after fish-killing accident

May. 17, 2005
By S. Heather Duncan
Telegraph Staff Writer

The owner of a Griffin factory has agreed to pay more than $50,000 for killing fish in a creek that feeds the Ocmulgee River.

According to state and federal environmental officials, more than 900 fish, as well as aquatic insects and salamanders, were killed over a 7.5-mile stretch of Cabin Creek as a result of toxic wastewater from Springs Industries. The facility, which has a history of environmental compliance problems, bleaches and dyes Springmaid and Wamsutta towels.

Springs agreed to pay $50,465 and improve its operations. Ted Matthews, vice president of corporate c ommunication for the South-Carolina based company, said Springs has already spent $60,000 to upgrade the system that caused the problem.

"Given what we'd already done voluntarily, we felt the fine was somewhat steep and excessive," he said. "Ultimately we decided it was just best for all parties to move ahead and pay the fine."
Springs Industries has paid repeated fines to the state Environmental Protection Division for failures to treat its wastewater to the level required by state regulation. The result was too much phosphorous, copper and other pollutants in Cabin Creek, according to the state.

Springs' wastewater comprises most of the flow in Cabin Creek, which is essentially a wet-weather stream, Matthews said. The plant was located there in the 1920s and purchased by Springs in 1995, he said.

"Cabin Creek would not exist if not for the towel finishing operation," Matthews said.
Cabin Creek also is the site of one of Griffin's city sewage treatment plants. That plant has also been fined by the state for repeatedly releasing polluted water.

In 1999, Springs Industries applied to release its wastewater into the Flint River instead of Cabin Creek, but the effort foundered after vocal opposition from residents along the Flint from Lamar to Crisp counties - as well as former President Jimmy Carter.

So instead of moving the effluent, the state granted Springs a variance exempting it from some toxicity testing requirements. Essentially, Springs conducted a study proving that the stream has a healthy population of native fish and aquatic life, and that the community would suffer economically if the factory closed, said Jeff Larson, EPD manager of water permit enforcement and compliance.

"The (native) species are there," Larson said. "The proof is in the pudding."

Larson said such variances are granted only when a stream is made up mostly of a factory's wastewater and the factory has tried everything else modern technology allows without being able to reduce pollution levels. Textile mills elsewhere have similar problems, he said.

A variance must be re-approved every three years. Larson said he doubts the fish kill will affect the variance because the event was caused by "gross error" and doesn't reflect the company's normal operation.

Sabrina Glenn, EPD environmental engineer, said Springs uses a polymer to treat the color out of its wastewater. The fish kill happened when the polymer release mechanism malfunctioned for several days. According to the consent order, 3,600 gallons of polymer flowed into Cabin Creek, about three times more than normal. Large amounts of red dye also entered the water.
Glenn said the undiluted polymer was toxic to the fish.

In addition to the fine, Springs Industries agreed to hire an engineer to evaluate its wastewater system, hire a new wastewater treatment operator, and make other improvements to its wastewater system during three to five months.

Matthews said the company has already made the new hires and is conducting the engineering study. The polymer-system overhaul required was finished before the state's order was issued, he said.