A draft permit is open for comment until September 8, 2022, on a modification to the GA-EPD Hazardous Waste Permit for the closed Perma-Fix site in Valdosta.

Notice and Draft Permit

Notice

According to the notice, HW-085-D-ExcaliburRealtyValdosta.pdf “The modified permit, if approved, will incorporate the Post-Closure Care Plan (PCCP) and update the Permit content to reflect changes made by the Director to the groundwater protection standards (GWPS) applicable to the facility.”

will incorporate the Post-Closure Care Plan (PCCP)

Those seem like good additions.

Comment deadline September 8, 2022

Draft Permit

That notice and the draft permit are on the WWALS website. Thanks to Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA-EPD) Program Manager Holly Nelson for emailing me the draft permit. A paper copy is available at Willis L. Miller Public Library, 2906 Julia Drive, Valdosta, GA 31602, Phone: (229) 333-0086.

The Accident

The smoke and fire plume is a still from Valdosta Daily Times, Video Courtesy of Larry Hanson, August 14, 2013, Additional footage: Explosions at Perma-Fix,

Perma-Fix Explosion 2013-08-14

“A series of explosions occurred this afternoon in the Gil Harbin Industrial Park, from the Perma-Fix of South Georgia, according to preliminary reports.

“Times staff at the scene reports explosions continuing, black smoke rising above the park.

“Perma-Fix processes wastes, both hazardous and non-hazardous; these materials include aerosol cans, ink paste, etc. The business suffered a fire earlier this year.”

It doesn’t process wastes anymore: it’s been closed since the fire.

According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), On-Scene Coordinator (OSC), Permafix of South Georgia,

“On August 14, 2013, an explosion occurred at the Permafix of South Georgia facility in Valdosta, Georgia. The explosion occurred when an employee was off-loading a 55-gallon container of acetone type waste into a fuel blending pot. The explosion resulted in a two-alarm fire which engulfed half of the facility and led to the evacuation of residents and businesses in a one mile radius. Three different fire departments responded, as well as the following Agencies: FBI, ATF, OSHA, and Georgia EPD. EPA Region 4 dispatched Florida Outpost OSC Russell to the scene to oversee removal operations. Upon arriving on site a Unified Command was established with the RP, Valdosta FD, ATF, Georgia EPD, and OSHA.”

Maps

The Perma-Fix site at 1612 James P Rodgers Cir, Valdosta, GA 31601 is just uphill from Mud Swamp Creek.

Map: Perma-Fix to Mud Swamp Creek 2022-08-04 in the WWALS map of the Alapaha River Water Trail (ARWT).

That’s about 12.13 creek miles upstream from where Mud Swamp Creek and Grand Bay Creek join to form the Alapahoochee River.

Map: Perma-Fix to Alapahoochee River 2022-08-04

Then it’s another 14.34 Alapahoochee River miles to the Alapaha River, just upstream of Sasser Landing in Hamilton County, Florida, and 21.24 river miles upstream from the Suwannee River.

Map: Perma-Fix to Alapaha River 2022-08-04

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

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