Toxins

A toxic legacy lingers across our coast.

Communities across Georgia are burdened with toxic waste sites. Originating primarily from private industry, the pollution on these sites impacts our water quality, land use, public health, and wildlife. Cleaning up these toxic sites is ultimately the responsibility of the polluters and the Environmental Protection Agency or Georgia’s Environmental Protection Department (EPD). Unfortunately, cleanup plans are often insufficient and delayed, allowing pollutants to linger migrate beyond property lines through the air and water, devastating the health of local residents and wildlife.

While the impact of these toxic sites can span an entire community, they are disproportionately located in low-income, minority communities. As a result, people of color along our coast are more likely to experience public health issues, diminished property values, and lost access to natural resources as a result of toxic contamination.

Currently, 134 of Georgia’s 159 counties have at least one site listed on the state’s Hazardous Site Inventory, with 22 Superfund sites across the state.

Coastal Georgia has more than 60 sites listed on the inventory, and four Superfund sites are located within Glynn County.

Toxic Sites Threaten Human and Wildlife Health

Every time we recreate by or consume fish caught near hazardous sites, humans risk dangerous exposure to carcinogenic chemicals, such as Toxaphene in Terry Creek and PCBs near the Honeywell-LCP Superfund site. Serious health impacts have also been documented on local wildlife such as fish and marine mammals, which accumulate the toxic materials in their tissue. These sites pose a threat to our economy and quality of life, as property values decline when hazardous materials are discovered. Often times, residents with the ability to leave will move from the community, leaving the most vulnerable residents behind to endure the ongoing threats.

Know Your Superfund Sites

Georgians deserve a say in the cleanup plans that impact their community. That’s why One Hundred Miles has taken an active role in advocating for responsible cleanup plans to address our coast’s hazardous waste sites. In Glynn County, the Honeywell-LCP and Terry Creek Superfund sites are currently undergoing planning for remediation. Our staff is working with community members and the EPA to ensure cleanup plans adequately restore our land, water quality, wildlife, and public safety.

While both the Honeywell-LCP and Pinova Hercules/Terry Creek Superfund Sites present similar threats to the community, different tactics and information are needed to effectively fight. More detailed information for both sites coming soon.

Pinova Hercules Plant & Terry Creek Outfall

Pinova (also known locally as Hercules, the original owners/operators of the plant) is a hazardous waste site actively managed by Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division. According to Hercules’ website, the Terry Creek outfall (a designated Superfund site) has undergone various clean-up and remediation plans over the years. However, heavy traces of the insecticide toxaphene and other pollutants remain present. There are approximately 600 acres of marshland and tidal creek, including Terry Creek, that have no remediation plans in spite of evidence of contamination.

The (federal) Environmental Protection Agency has agreed to a remediation plan underway at the Terry Creek Superfund site. The current plan reroutes the outfall ditch and leaves an open hole/ditch, continually exposing wildlife and people to toxins. The Urbana/Perry Park Neighborhood Planning Assembly has been actively fighting for this ditch to be covered.

We and our partners are asking for the EPA to cover this rerouted ditch and implement an additional clean-up plan for the 600+ acres still left untouched.

Honeywell-LCP

The (federal) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is in charge of remediation of the Honeywell-LCP Superfund Site in Brunswick. Because this site includes about 800 acres of contaminated marsh and uplands, the remediation plans target smaller “operable units.” This allows the EPA to adequately monitor clean-up operations.

Though remediation of the Honeywell-LCP has been underway for years, the process is highly flawed and complicated. For example, OHM took legal action in 2020 to stop an inadequate settlement agreement meant to compensate for damages caused by the release of toxic chemicals from the Honeywell-LCP Superfund Site. The proposed $4 million agreement was not only wholly insufficient, it put our citizens’ health at risk. GADNR later dropped the case, giving us a chance to fight for a more equitable solution.

Read the complaint OHM filed and our letter opposing this settlement.