Olin Corporation’s Augusta, Georgia
Site History
Olin Corporation - Augusta, Georgia
THE FACILITY
The Olin Corporation opened their Chlor-Alkali facility in Augusta, Georgia in 1965. The site spans 530 acres with approximately 150 of those developed. This land has been deemed so heavily polluted that it cannot be remediated, and its sale is banned in perpetuity.
The primary contaminants still present in the soils, surface water, sediments, and groundwater are volatile organics such as benzene, chlorobenzene, vinyl chloride and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); and heavy metals such as mercury.
We are currently investigating claims of potential mercury contamination to both people and property as a result of various plant operations. These operations utilized thousands of pounds of elemental mercury to produce chlorine and other products.
OPERATIONS
The process of Mercury-Cell Chlor-Alkali manufacturing involves the use of thousands of pounds of elemental mercury. In the manufacturing process, mercury is used as a transport mechanism in the production of chlorine gas (Cl2). Typically, production occurs in a closed system; one that prevents the ingress or egress of chemical compounds into or out of the system. However, through the process of maintenance, decommissioning, demolition, or other “upset” conditions wherein the interior of the system is exposed to the external environment, risks of exposure increase exponentially. Mercury vaporizes (evaporates) at room temperature into an odorless and non-irritating vapor, making it impossible to detect without specialized equipment and testing. Often, gaseous or liquid mercury is brought home by workers on their skin, clothes, or tools from the plant, unintentionally exposing their families to this toxic metal.
Contact Us
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