T. H. Agriculture & Nutrition (Albany)

• Site Profile
• Administrative Record Index (PDF): OU1 (12 pp., 463K), OU2 (3 pp., 82K),
  ESD (2 pp., 42K), Removal (4 pp., 134K)
• Additional Site Documents including Five Year Reviews, Records of Decisions (ROD) and Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD).
• For documents not available on the website, please contact the Region 4 Freedom of Information Office (http://www.epa.gov/region4/foiapgs/submit.htm).

Site Background:
The T. H. Agriculture & Nutrition 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. 

Site Responsibility: This site has been addressed through responsible party actions.

Threats and Contaminants
Pesticides such as methyl parathion, DDT, ethylene dibromide, and toxaphene have been found in the site soil and groundwater.  The solvent xylene is also present in both pesticide formulation facilities.

Cleanup Approach
In 1982, the potentially responsible party (PRP) for the western parcel (Operable Unit One) conducted a removal activity under the oversight of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division.  During the remedial investigation/feasibility study, the PRP found pesticides and other organic contaminants in the soils and groundwater.  A pit containing pure pesticide product was also discovered.  EPA issued a Unilateral Administrative Order to the PRP, requiring the removal of the pit contents, as well as the contaminated soil. The remaining groundwater contamination under both facilities threatens potential users of groundwater.

Soil contamination on the eastern parcel (Operable Unit Two) was treated on site by low temperature thermal desorption.  This work was completed in December 1999.

Response Action Status
A Record of Decision (ROD) was issued for Operable Unit One by EPA in May 1993. EPA issued a Unilateral Administrative Order in October 1993, to the PRPs for the design and construction of the remedy. Construction of the groundwater pump and treat system was completed in the spring of 1997.  The pump and treat system was shut down in 2003 due to poor recovery contaminant recovery efficiency.  At this time, an in-situ 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.     

 
A ROD was issued for Operable Unit Two by EPA in April 1996.  EPA began negotiations for a Consent Decree with the PRPs in the summer of 1996. The Consent Decree was finalized in mid 1997. The PRP’s Remedial Design was approved in September 1999.  Remedial activities began in August 1999 and were completed by December 1999. A construction completion for the site was planned for FY-2000, but confirmation soil sampling indicates that contamination above the ROD’s goals still exists at the site.

The most recent Five Year Review Report for Operable Unit One was concluded in September 2003.  This Review concluded that changes were warranted to more effectively address the remedial objectives in the site’s groundwater.  The link for this Report is: http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/fiveyear/f03-04012.pdf.

The most recent Five Year Review Report Operable Unit Two was concluded in January 2006.  This Review concluded that actions were warranted to more effectively address the remedial objectives for the soil and groundwater at the site.  The link for this Report is: http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/fiveyear/f0604004.pdf.

A second Five Year Review Report, combining both operable units, was completed in September 2008.  It too will be posted on the EPA web site in the future.  The issues and recommendations raised in the 2008 Five Year Review are currently being addressed by EPA during the spring of 2009.

Site Repository
Dougherty County Public Library, 300 Pine St., Albany, GA 31701-2533
EPA Region IV Superfund Records Center, 66 Forsyth Street, Atlanta, GA 30303