![[logo] US EPA](http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
T. H. Agriculture & Nutrition (Albany)
National Information
Photos/Multimedia
Entrance of the THAN parcel and warehouse with the ground water treatment system.
- Additional Site Photos
- Site Video
Additional Resources
- Site Cleanup Terms - can be found in EPA's glossary
- EPA Guides to Cleanup Technologies
- Superfund Community Involvement (PDF) (17 pp, 130K, About PDF)
Site Summary Profile
EPA ID: GAD042101261Location: Albany, Dougherty County, GA
Lat/Long: 31.617360, -084.181660
Congressional District: 02
NPL Status: Proposed: 06/24/88; Final: 03/31/89
Affected Media: Ground water, Sediment, Soil
Cleanup Status: Construction underway - physical cleanup activities have started
Site Reuse/Redevelopment: Portion of site currently in reuse - light industrial
Site Manager: Galo Jackson (jackson.galo@epa.gov)
Site Background
The T. H. Agriculture & Nutrition (THAN) Superfund site is a 12-acre site composed of two former pesticide formulation facilities. The facilities were used from the 1950s until the 1980s for the liquid and dry formulation of pesticides and other chemicals. The 7-acre western property comprising the site is located at 1401 Schley Avenue. The eastern 5-acre property is located at 1359 Schley Avenue.
The western property was used as a formulation and packaging plant for agricultural chemicals from the 1950s until 1982. Currently, the property contains a warehouse that houses a ground water treatment system; the rest of the parcel is vacant. The property is fenced and has a locked gate. The current landowners do not have any plans to lease or redevelop the parcel in the near future.
The eastern property was also used as a formulation and packaging plant for agricultural chemicals from 1964 into the 1970s. In 1985, the property was sold to an owner that did not contribute to the contamination, but has been involved in the site since its discovery. Since 1985, this owner has operated a welding supply business on the property. There is no anticipated change in land use or ownership for this property in the near term.Threats and Contaminants
Pesticides such as methyl parathion, dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT), ethylene dibromide, and toxaphene have been found in the site soil and ground water. The solvent xylene is also present in both pesticide formulation facilities.
Exposure to site contaminants at the site could result from ingestion of, or direct contact with, contaminated soils or ground water.Site Cleanup Plan
The cleanup plan for the THAN site covered two operable units (OUs): OU-1 (soil contamination on the western property and ground water across the entire site) and OU-2 (soils on the eastern property).
A Record of Decision (ROD) for OU-1 was signed in 1993. Major components of the cleanup approach included:- No action for soils due to previous cleanup actions.
- Pumping and treatment of contaminated ground water.
- Pumping and off-site incineration of light non-aqueous phase liquids.
- Institutional controls, including land and ground water use restrictions.
- Maintenance of the site's vegetative cover.
In 1995, an Explanation of Significant Differences was signed that enabled changes to the OU-1 ground water treatment technology, the treated ground water disposal method, and the treatment process for subsurface contamination.
The ROD for OU-2 was signed in 1996. It included primarily soil excavation and the use of thermal desorption (the process of using heat to change contaminants in soil into gases resulting in clean soil). Major components of the cleanup approach included:- Excavation of contaminated surface and subsurface soils.
- Staging and preconditioning of soil for low temperature thermal desorption (LTTD).
- Treatment of excavated soil by LTTD.
- Placement of treated, decontaminated soil back on the site.
- Periodic sampling of treated soil during the treatment process to verify the effectiveness of the cleanup approach.
- Air monitoring to ensure safety of nearby residents and workers.
- Annual ground water monitoring to ensure that contamination remaining in the subsurface soil will not result in contaminated ground water migrating off site in concentrations exceeding ground water protection standards.
- Institutional controls to prevent residential use of the property.
Cleanup Progress
In 1984, the potentially responsible party (PRP) for the western parcel conducted a removal activity under the oversight of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GEPD). Major cleanup activities included:
- Demolition of several buildings.
- Excavation of selected surface soils and subsurface disposal areas.
- Installation of a perimeter fence.
- Establishment of vegetative cover.
Excavated soils and debris were removed and disposed off site in a permitted hazardous waste landfill. During removal, soil excavation continued until the GEPD-specified cleanup criteria were met.
The site was listed on the National Priorities List in March 1989. During the subsequent Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study to identify the nature and extent of remaining contamination, the PRP found pesticides and other organic contaminants in the soils and ground water. A pit containing pure pesticide product located on the THAN property was also discovered. In 1992, EPA directed the removal of pit contents as well as the contaminated soil. The removal also included the demolition and removal of several on-site structures.
In 1997, construction of the ground water pump and treat system was completed. In 2003, the system was shut down due to poor recovery contaminant efficiency. At this time, an on-site bioremediation pilot study was initiated. This study was designed to determine whether bioremediation is capable of remediating the toxaphene, among other pesticides, which have accumulated near the water table. The final bioremediation report, received by EPA in late 2007, concludes that this technology is not likely to be effective.
Soil contamination treatment on OU-2 (the eastern parcel) was completed in December 1999. Follow-up soil sampling indicated that contamination above site cleanup goals still exists at the site.
A Five-Year Review (FYR) for OU-1 completed in 2003 concluded that changes were warranted to more effectively address the cleanup objective for site ground water. A FYR for OU-2 completed in 2006 concluded that actions were warranted to more effectively address the cleanup objectives for the soil and ground water at the site. A FYR for the entire site completed in 2008 concluded that the cleanup approaches for both OUs have been implemented in accordance with the selected remedies in the RODs. However, the cleanup approaches have not functioned as intended. It added that a protectiveness determination regarding the OU-1 and OU-2 cleanup approaches cannot be made at this time until further information is obtained. The issues and recommendations raised in the 2008 FYR are currently being addressed by EPA.
Site cleanup activities are being led primarily by PRPs with oversight by EPA.Enforcement Activities
The PRP agreed to conduct the Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study pursuant to an Administrative Order by Consent signed in July 1990.
In March 1992, EPA issued a Unilateral Administrative Order for the PRP to conduct a second removal at the THAN parcel.
A second removal was conducted at the THAN Property pursuant to a Unilateral Administrative
Order (UAO) issued to THAN by EPA in March of 1992.
In October 1993, EPA issued a Unilateral Administrative Order in October 1993 directing the PRP to complete the design and construction of the cleanup approach outlined in the 1993 ROD.
In 1997, the PRP signed an EPA-negotiated Consent Decree directing the PRP to perform the Remedial Design/Remedial Action according to the cleanup approach outlined in the 1996 ROD.
A Consent Decree for OU-1 was signed in May 2002.
Administrative Orders on Consent were signed in October 2003 and July 2004.Community Involvement
EPA has conducted a range of community involvement activities at the THAN Superfund site to solicit community input and to ensure that the public remains informed about site activities throughout the site cleanup process. Outreach activities have included public notices and information meetings on cleanup progress and activities.
Future Work
The issues and recommendations raised in the 2008 FYR are currently being addressed by EPA.
Ground water monitoring is periodically conducted.
The vegetative cover on OU-1 soils undergoes maintenance as needed.
The next FYR is required to be completed no later than September 2013.Site Administrative Documents
Site Repository
For more information or to view any site-related documents, please visit the site information repository at the following location. As new documents are generated, they will be placed in the information repository for public information.
Dougherty County Public Library
300 Pine Street.
Albany, GA 31701-2533
Administrative Record Index
- OU-1 (PDF) (12 pp, 463K, About PDF)
- OU-2 (PDF) (3 pp, 82K, About PDF)
- ESD (PDF) (2 pp, 42K, About PDF)
- ESD (PDF) (4 pp, 134K, About PDF)
For documents not available on the website, please contact the Region 4 Freedom of Information Office.