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EPA to Obtain Access Agreements to Property Near Former Virginia Carolina Chemical Site in Social Circle, Ga.

Release Date: 06/09/2004
Contact Information: Dawn Harris-Young, (404) 562-8421, harris-young.dawn@epa.gov

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has begun the process of obtaining access agreements from approximately 10 property owners whose property is located near the former Virginia Carolina Chemical (VCC) fertilizer manufacturing site in Social Circle, Walton County, Georgia. The agreement will allow EPA and other authorized representatives to have access to conduct sampling and, if required, cleanup activities. Sampling is scheduled to begin June 21, 2004. EPA's activities at the site may include, but are not limited to, the following: sampling soil, water, and air if determined necessary; drilling of holes and installing monitoring wells for subsurface investigation; taking other actions related to the investigation of surface or subsurface contamination; implementing an adequately protective response action, where warranted; transporting and disposing of all wastes at a facility approved by the EPA; confirmation soil sampling for treatment or disposal of soil; transporting of equipment onto and about the site as necessary to accomplish the above activities; and returning the property to its previous condition to the extent practical. Representatives from the EPA and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) began visiting residents in the community on Monday, June 7, 2004 to provide information regarding the facility background and details of the future project schedule. These door-to-door visits will continue until Monday, June 14, 2004, between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. For general information or to schedule a time for EPA to visit, please contact Tiki Whitfield, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator at (404) 562-8530 or 1-800-564-7577. Please direct technical questions to Craig Zeller, EPA Project Manager, at (404) 562-8827. The former VCC site is located between E. Hightower Road and the Georgia Railroad tracks, east of the city center. The facility operated a fertilizer facility in the Social Circle area until approximately 1930. ExxonMobil is the corporate successor to Virginia-Carolina.