Company also agrees to contain runoff and monitor water quality

Chemical firm ordered to begin creek cleanup

August 14, 2010
By Lee Shearer | Athens Banner-Herald

The state Environmental Protection Division has ordered an Athens chemical company to begin cleaning toxic chemicals out of an Athens creek contaminated by runoff from a July 28 fire at the company's factory off Olympic Drive.

Todd Boyd, president of J&J Chemical Co., also agreed to prevent any more contaminated runoff from trickling into a nearby tributary of Trail Creek, according to a consent order signed Thursday.

A private company hired by J&J Chemical began pumping water out of Trail Creek at Olympic Drive and Athena Drive on Thursday. Machines pass the water through big activated carbon filters before returning it to the creek.

Under the consent order, J&J Chemical also will begin demolishing the burned building in Athens Technology Park, identify what chemicals are in the debris and properly dispose of the material.

Boyd also agreed to continue monitoring water quality in several locations along Trail Creek twice a week until contaminants are no longer detected in the water.

Meanwhile, lab tests show the level of contaminants in Trail Creek continue to decline, the EPD announced Friday.

In water samples taken earlier this week where Trail Creek empties into the North Oconee River at Dudley Park, paradichlorobenzene was measured at 14 parts per billion, the EPD said. On July 29 at about the same place, scientists measured a concentration of 407 parts per billion.

Samples taken July 29 and later farther downstream in the North Oconee and Oconee rivers show no detectable paradichlorobenzene, the EPD said.

Firefighters poured about 740,000 gallons of water on the fire as they tried to save part of the building July 28. Much of the runoff wound up in Trail Creek, including the benzene compound, perfumes, formaldehyde and a dye that colored the water blue for miles downstream.

J&J Chemical used the chemicals to make products like toilet bowl disinfectant and graffiti remover.

The runoff killed nearly 16,000 fish, along with frogs, turtles and many other creatures - almost all life in the stream, according to state Department of Natural Resources scientists.

People who lived downstream also worried that their health could be affected by the toxic blue water.

The EPD has recommended that people and pets stay out of the creek until tests show the contaminants are gone.

Oconee River Chemical Spill more details >>