Smyrna chemical spill finds its way to the Chattahoochee River . A gasket failure on a mixing tank is blamed for the massive leak.
Mary Kate McGowan
Toxins from a chemical spill in Smyrna earlier this month have made their way down to the Chattahoochee River, according to a local environmentalist.
Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Jason Ulseth, the environmental group’s spokesperson, said levels of contamination have been detected both upstream and downstream from the Kenwood neighborhood creek that turned white from toxins in mid-August.
“I’m certain some levels … did make its way down to the Chattahoochee River,” he said.
Ulseth said he does not have enough information to determine if the river is unsafe.
Ulseth said he anticipates the Environmental Protection Agency opening a criminal investigation regarding the incident. He said this is the worst spill he has seen in years, and he said he expects policy enforcement from both state and federal environmental agencies.
Ulseth said environmental agencies will continue testing water and soil samples to determine contamination levels for as long as needed.
Dana McPherson, a five-year resident of the Kenwood neighborhood, said the recent rainstorms have moved the toxins downstream.
“Those toxins are in the Chattahoochee now,” he said.
McPherson said the stream is located about a half-mile from the Chattahoochee River and is connected through a lake and Nickajack Creek.
On Aug. 12, the creek that runs through the Kenwood neighborhood turned white after an automotive cleaning solvent entered the creek from Apollo Technologies, a specialty chemical packaging company.
McPherson said he saw an Apollo Technologies worker hosing the solvent down the storm drain.
“It wasn’t just a leak or spill,” he said Thursday. “It was actually intentional.”
The 2,300-gallon chemical spill entered the stream from Apollo Technologies on South Cobb Industrial Boulevard and traveled downstream for three-quarters of a mile before it was stopped, according to Cobb Fire Department officials.
To contain the toxins, dams of sandbags and dirt were built where the creek connected to other bodies of water, but the barriers did not hold the contamination in. Ulseth said the structures have since been taken down.
Geoff Ladue, chief operating officer of PLZ, a parent company that acquired Apollo Technologies in December 2015, said surveillance cameras showed the leak had begun that Friday night from a gasket failure on a mixing tank, which is permanently out of service.
He said the company hired an engineer to inspect all the tanks and the facility to ensure a leak does not happen again.
Ladue said the worker’s actions were “not normal operating procedures,” and said the company is investigating the situation.
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Caustic chemical dump turns creek white
Adrianne Haney and Christopher Buchanan, WXIA 6:33 PM. EDT August 13, 2016
(Photo: Provided, WXIA)
SMYRNA, Ga. -- Officials are working Saturday to identify and clean up a chemical substance that somehow made its way into a Cobb County creek in a residential area.
And now, officials believe they know what the mysterious chemical is.
A spokesperson with the Cobb County Fire Department confirmed that employees of the Apollo Industries plant called authorities around 11:30 a.m. to report that "something had been dumped into the water."
That "something" was apparently an automotive cleaning solvent.
Crews with the fire department responded were able to determine that the source of the substance was from the company's property on South Cobb Industrial Boulevard.
According to the company's website, it produces products ranging from aerosol cleaners to insecticides.
Fire and water officials were able to stop the leak at the plant, but not before 2,300 gallons of the substance made its way into the surrounding water system, stretching for at least three-quarters of a mile of a nearby creek.
At this time, authorities and employees with Apollo Industries have not indicated what kind of health risk it poses. However, officials tell 11Alive the substance has been contained so as not to make its way into bigger lakes or creeks.
Boyd told 11Alive multiple hazmat teams were on site to assess the contamination, and the Environmental Protection Agency is also "aware of the situation."
11Alive spoke to neighbors in the the Kenwood neighborhood who said they noticed the substance. They reported smelling an odor coming from the contaminated water, which Cobb officials confirmed.
Dana McPherson was one of those neighbors who followed his nose.
"It smells like you are in a toxic waste facility," he told 11Alive.
Virginia Belizaire agrees.
"It smells like acetone. It smells like oil based paint," she said. "I'm disgusted, I don't even understand how this can happen. ... We have a lot of wildlife, natural wildlife. There's no way anything natural or living can survive in that mess. It's not going to happen!"
Belizaire told 11Alive her throat was burning and her eyes were itching. But Boyd says residents should remain calm as crews try to clean up the mess.
"We have the area blocked off where there's a concern," Boyd said before the susbstance was identified. "Obviously, I wouldn't recommend anyone going down to the water."
Boyd told 11Alive that crews from both the county and the company are focusing on cleaning up the substance as quickly and safely as possible, though they are not sure at this time which methods will be used.
11Alive reached out to Apollo Industries for a comment on the situation. While the company did confirm that the contamination happened, a spokesperson would not go into any further details about how it may have spilled or any previous fines.
They did, however, release the following statement:
“The safety of the community and our employees is our top priority. As of this afternoon, we were able to quickly dam the creek and contain the situation and are doing everything as quickly and safely as possible to clean this up.
Early this morning, 2,500 gallons of carburetor cleaner leaked from our Smyrna facility into a nearby creek. Immediately upon discovery of the situation, we notified the local fire department, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division and our remediation firm, Clean Harbor, which has extensive experience in this type of clean-up.
We worked with Georgia EPD and Clean Harbors to develop a plan, dammed the creek and are currently pumping the creek water into tanks for further remediation.
Our employees live and work in the community and so we know how important it is to ensure that something like this never happens again. Accordingly, we are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the cause of this incident and will work to ensure we have the best safety protocols in place for the facility.”
(© 2016 WXIA)
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APOLLO TECHNOLOGIES
We are a specialty chemical contract packager with over 40 years experience offering turn-key solutions manufacturing aerosols, liquids and bag-on-valve products.
UPDATE ON CHEMICAL SPILL 8/14/2016"Early Saturday morning, 2,300 gallons of carburetor cleaner leaked from our Smyrna facility into a nearby creek. Immediately upon discovery of the situation, we notified the local fire department, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division and remediation firm Environmental Products & Services of Vermont, Georgia Division, which has extensive experience in this type of clean-up. We plan cooperation and coordination with these authorities.
Our highest priority right now and from now on is the safety and protection of the Smyrna community and anyone living near the creek. I arrived here in Smyrna this morning from Apollo’s parent company in St. Louis, and I intend to be here on the ground, answering all questions as best as we can, and focusing on clean-up and protection of the community.
As of Saturday afternoon, we were able to dam the creek and contain as best as possible the spreading of the chemical cleaner, and we are doing everything as quickly and safely as possible to clean this up. We worked with Environmental Products & Services of Vermont, Georgia Division to develop a plan, dammed the creek and are currently pumping the creek water into tanks to hold for future safe removal and elimination.
Our employees live and work in the community and so we know how important it is to remediate this and ensure that something like this never happens again. Accordingly, we are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the cause of this incident and will work to ensure we have the best safety protocols in place for the facility. The safety of the community and our employees is our top priority.”
-Geoff Ladue, Chief Operating Officer, PLZ Aeroscience, parent company of Apollo Technologies (acquired in December 2015)
Media contact:
Martha Arendt
312-285-9622
marendt@aileroninc.com
Mainstream to niche, we are adding formulations to our existing library of over 1800 every day to serve every industry.
With
laboratories staffed by experienced chemists, Apollo Technologies is
able to meet any formulation challenge. From new custom formulation to
tried and true formulations we work closely with our customers to ensure
they go to market with a high quality product that exceeds their goals.
Household Products
- Glass & Plastic Cleaner (Non- & Ammoniated)
- SS Cleaner (Water & Oil Based)
- Chewing Gum & Wax Remover
- Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner
- Hospital Grade Quat Disinfectant
- All Purpose Cleaner
- Vandal Removers
- Dust Mop Treat’s (Water & Oil Based)
- Anti-Fog Screen Cleaner
- Citrus Foam Cleaner
- Tile & Grout
- Dry Air Fresheners
- Metered Air Fresheners
- Chalkboard Cleaner
- Spot Removers (Water & Oil Based)
- Baseboard Stripper
- Fabric Protector
- Orange Degreasers
- Panel Treatments
- Oven Cleaners
- Furniture Polishes
- Air Deodorants
- Tobacco/Odor Neutralizers
Industrial, Auto, and Hardware Products
- Contact Cleaners
- Adhesives
- Cleaners
- Safety Solvents & Foaming Cleaners
- Battery Terminal
- Cleaner & Protector
- Choke & Carb Cleaners
- Disc Brake Quiet
- Lubricants
- Water Displacement, Light Oil, & Grease
- Tire Dressings
- Cleaners, Shines, & Coatings
- Metal Parts
- Cutting & Tapping Fluids, and Protectants
- Degreasers
- Coatings
- Striping Paint, Zinc Galvanizer, Rubberized Undercoatings, and Pruning Sealants
- Spray De-Icer
- Removers – Synthetic & “Green”
- Paint, Gasket, Grease/Wax, and Bug & Tar
Insecticides, and Pet Care Products
- Flying Insect Killers
- Insect Repellents
- Roach & Ant Killers
- Total Release Foggers
- Crawling Insects, Flying Insects, and Fungicides
- Wasp & Hornet Sprays
- Water & Oil Based
- Synthetic & Natural
- Flea & Tick Sprays
- Room/Bedding
- On-Animal