Document 4vROoOqYavGbg8Zkvb3M730K1

By Phil Gorner Photography by Floyd Jilltcn . ]3l>W/CRPKN water smelling faintly af chemical* Hows lurlc.in.ly Inlo tributary el Ok Ttipaleo Hlver hum an electrical ea- pnrltor plant In Kmtili CaiellnA. The wolcr contain* iiolicbletmaied liipUrnjI* IPCitsI blew* acerplert levels The plant ha* Urn Ordered te ptr.in ctp Hs e>krbnrgr< *Bf the Creek. but II itmaln* illll d.r.charpinR Plshfiinen In take UmUvcII, la Uit neon III.*, bsv* kern watMtl ou* le eal what Ibry catrb. Water It diwhatfer! at low points from M Ibflrleal tiarrfermrr plant in Home Ca, Mo tlreatm which flow Into Ittf Ceo*-* Hlver. tomr of the ti't contain* PCM* l<evc acrrpled level*. Yhe plant mn>te meet, already lakinR measures lo clean up Its 1*011 dlebrje*. privately Wormed a Ufa n*lalery e/rrocy II ueM eeav production el PCUh'seieR equipment In |9TI. In the meantime, contamination el (be river contViur* ana Ure plant icmolna Of-cft. Tee river, however, In been rlwrd te corn* mrrcicl llvbrinaan by the same alale feirry. The detection o' accumulated PCHs In fnb lm:n both Gcorp.la rivers - al lev* It well beyond lb**e leleiaM by the Ui . Food and Dntc Administration- rent anil* pollution enfoicement maeMnrry Into Orerlrraled aetlen btinplny Into locos some generally o*r.nhrd lari* abool the pirtcc- tie* flcted lire public. . Drtpllc lire Wain Pollution Control Act l 1911. with lit tyilein of discharge pec- mile admlhtitcrH by the Knvlroi,menial Protection Agency oi by approvtd atete Oteuctes. Ihe major par lion el the policing m leite dlsclungti lute lite mllon't waive- ays It ltd le ihr plant managers them- five*. And, even Alien the plant man-veer* repeit loilr contnmtn.rllon beyond ick-'Mcd levU. (hey are *.M,m fared with drastic Mfwrenienl action le long b plant matuerr* Imprem en- foreement allrrlali wllh Ibr good lallh el n`Tl f' iT^Tr^r'v*ir r -^M!' - W*. i I-':! , y. ii :.! nil : I -i?;! V te;r!; :{i T&~v t- >-7! l r-'.-i i ' s--. m ------ Sloll con'l hoop lobs on 12,000 permits, soys EMA enforcement ciol rout 1to>r.o. tfcalr effort* te correct vMallctii of permit requirement*. they are allowed lo continue le eonlaminate <h waterway*. . OnI.V when PCB levels In fish reached Ike point pi Immediate danfer lo huinrns who miyM cat them did the Atlanta re- fienal eihc>' of the U. fi, baivirormoi.ml "roteelion Arrncy order the eflendluR plant le ertrret mr tier* "Y.'e deal wllh aome U.OtO pcrmlu." esplalned I'aol Train*, dirttler el Ihe enlercemrM division el !*A\ rc:;irnol elltiw In Allonta. "Wc have IlmtU in krnia cf pew pie who work lor ca. At preunt we have >9 or 40 pc-onlr who poll at thcr-e report*" The t.ihery el Ihe PCH car.cr in Seulb Carolina nil* Ueo>r>* erniain a ylMfre vf well uitcnimreJ action both by p^nl manper* and H'A oitirlals. wlirrh noncihckm allrwad continued pollution of ti*e watcia. The PCM polluter Ir. South Carolina la tbe Sangamo twclrk Cl' , whose plant h in Pirhcnv en a iribvlan of Town Cr h Cangamw wca PCfls in the |HOd*ctlon of ca- pacilars. Cbparitors arr drviece censhliny, of l*ro or more conductor plain srparnted by a dtelrrtfic and uud for Kceivinf and tto<ii>p an tktuiral chsip* Inr dirlrvttlc I* an Irmtlsior lhM altor-s the r'^-T'c of tires of force el an cloctrostillr hvlJ but doe* not conduit the current Caponier* st the Ssngamo plant, a* at rivt raporiler plsnt.s. erntnin PCfte a* Ihe dielcctile. a lunctim lor which it* beat-rtatstant liaturrs male It well suited. Tlie major produm of I'Clts ts the MroMnlO Co,, which sells tbe fluid >id--i Ihr frn'lc name Arerhw Itie l.nif rtw ma terhl |n Ute vaikws Arcelor cont|rjur>/s u biphenyl, wbreb la manulorturcd Irem pure beirne.Tbe (Continued uj/Vr*< Cafe) MQNS 046895 t' PC3* FtwD r*tt Xi) lor nconomk Cooprretloo nod i Development <01 iCI> prohibfeed the via to CCIU to mem- . tor countries eaeept to rtf- tain dosed systems. i biphenyl U first chlorinated Environmental protection ! With ashydiovt chlorine In the of.'irla** Ihous'M oil those j pretence *1 fMilt chloride In product ciude PCm, end ihen ,itHied to obtain llie ItoltM pnidort n.r-jorrs added up to an effective, eMnyreherudve pisgum thnt would "sake care'* to llie l*CR problem, recalled v " ftwtaet) Train, KI'A's adminis MoNSANTO'S PCI) pro trator. "ltwlesd." Train said to a rmsl speech. "more dwells* to 1*74 *< 40,4C*,- Uu*n three year* toier, we H pound* of which J4.40*.- find that, although PCU levels *80 wsmd* m sold to this to fooJ have aiendily deelli>cd. euuntry. I'Clu writ lbsi PClls are present to ear envi atanuferlwcd In I***, toil II ronment to a far greater do u only in l*C* Hint PCHs pier and at higher levels then , were diaroveird In fish, birds we have previously tkought." ' ' nod ollifi animal*. Three Train urged passage to a purs aflcr king discovered toslc Hhitifra eeiilrol law, |) global cpnlxminanl. pouting owl that five year* PCII* weie Ike oatwe 7 an have piuid ttneo sarh a law wtUcak of d-sease to Yahu, was recommended by former ' Japan. In which more Umo pi wiik nt Hlekard Niven 1 1,800 persons were effected `Rince that time." said Train, tier eating conlanitoated "we have introduced tolo the rommerrial market an csU- ' \ -- r: ,' In 1*11, presidential task mated *08 chemical eons|r<* TT|itcd that PCU pounds annually. We have 1 * r' >.. '.uom -* ' -- -*-- --- - -- wu8 too* 1-^- <>.!* owe found to all parts of the done to without ney system- An CPA scientist oporoiot poM of the complex sipipmeM used to doted PCS*. ih* Gl Itontfotnior plord In Rom*. Go., dooned up, but slid pul PC&S in Ihr wolor. Mvireomenl and could tooaecwmolaie to rilieinriy bl>>h levels to Irk. The Monsanto Oa. voluntarily nwlrieled Its oaks to PCI'.* to fnm using them to ''closed systems" each as cs|oeltors nod Irai* forinm. Jopao banned prodoeUon or bnptsrl to Itl'i rt.liicly. In 1*7*. the thgatosattoo tie. advance assessment to thrir f.ivnUal imparl upon piNic l.rclih" Meanwhile. continuing rw Kxrek has pointed toward PCfts u CAnrerkaesIng agent. A tl-meMk eapwure at rata to Arorior 1700 ram* eaweer of U-t liver In He tnlinaU. Female llhcsua snunkeya eapeaed to levels as lew as I * parts per million (ppm) anil $.* ppm <the PDA's current danger level rating) developed facini tene, leas to eyctovhas, Irregular menstrual cycles. and had eorly alwHior^ and stUltfirtha. Infants horn in mor.krys la the tr.-U ewntainrd IXits In their lissum at birth and con tinued to be exposed to them threeft (heir mothers' milk. ney. Sooth Carolina h one of TV liifont monkeys icvrlcped aeteral st'lca which have ohto letoonc and M perecnl to lakeo Over (he prrmilling them died within four months procets from the federal guv- to Nrtb. nnneot Ptolow-vp stndtes to the Ow August H to this year. Yosbe, Japan, tneident made South Carolina tilfielal So leading Japanese snen- called Ike l.l'A'i water toko t, showed that five of the ralory to Altvn;, Ca. 10 ask Yosbu vielimi died of rancefror vri.licnium letting to to the ilver nilhfo five ycais some oUrmrig furjinra fih- to eating the ecnl'mlrjilcd vated IfVi Is of 1`C'Ks bad rice oil. The Connection be beee fouml to fish while tween PCNs and thur canm monitoring Late Hartnell. won eobtfdered defuule to two Tie next day llrrre fish fillets of tba row were Nil to U.r ialwralory. The KI`A recently re)ried where the results weru veri that PCI*s bad been lovnd In lied Vali'i at high is 110 teals to milk of mulhcis who ppm (the allnualile level *as live to II slates to iMs rourv I ppm) were found to fish in lij. The averjge I'Cil level to the Tuelw Mile Creek area IV tests wu IT pj'ii, well to (he tale over Ike FDA allowed maxi mum of 0.7 ppm fur Infant od Junior food. Berause fUCs are non- blodegtadxMe. they aceumu- A WAONINC was Issued lo (he psililii and lexLing coalmued. A lio)a..ist was amt late In the sediment of from AIN-ns lo assist r<-uih streams and token and to U* Carolina boln^.stx On Aug aquatic food chain 1 .'us. even It), the l-M'A ar t ti e state of mull amounts dlvka-ged Into South Carolina continued their the v atcr can (mild to dorr advisjfy *ri*'l eating luh rerun levels wiieu eoacen- from l! i li.ke Irvti-d to predatory livh at the In llie n rintlme. slate anJ top ol the chain federal envuontnenUI toll- Ti e drtota over ksngamo dais viMtrd the Sangamo rivetries ywllution of Uite Elect! ie plant Tie plant )l.trtell began with a "row- manij-r had earlier taken |l:w" oatripling to fu-b by t'w coiwideiahtr c.vv lo seal off South Carolina lleaUh and the rcil opvraiion ftvn the LnyiroamnUI Centro) Ag- (Coafinurd on I'age 2S) MQNS 046896 pens fGarrfintrrtf AVo/tl /> t*> ml of the plant. There *i. at (list point. m evidence to Show whether the tX'lU In the take wr* coming lii the plant. r.K,t wi another possible ooorcc. &at>cmo had con tracted with a waste disposal firm to fM rid of Its dis carded material*, including Kangaroo had for tome time, however, teen rejKKlinp mort Ilian traceable amount* Of PCII* The company had been required by K* permit to ample daily in Town Creek and thiev lime* per nI at IU discharge point*. "Sometimes they reported on-detcrt-ilde, sometime* ft or S ppb," Train# rmtJIri) The re|<ort lor March I- May It showed a ft ft ppb overage reading of Ptlt* and a maximum teadini of 17 ppb. The report lor Dee 1 data showed a crtmlinulng dnv. ntirn.l" Train* did wnlr Simmor* in May. before the liart- till cn\v. **kmg I nr a met- (tip, with ininp.iny r]'i ama tive* to discu* tin' l*CB levels at the plant The level then was about C'f same v il reads turi. nilj, Tmw.i said returned l*> ihr plan! to late readirgs ihortly alter the Lake flannel) warnn.; *a* issued, however, they found that the msrhaige into Town Songomo closed its lirsl pond, but Iho second hod o higher PC H shrdye count. damaged capacitor* and used fillers. The waste was going to several dump* Visiting the tiles, Investigator* found rup tured capacitor* and lilieis tying In the open near flowing stream*. They took soil and water sample* in arid around Ihe dump* Testing at the plant tile era* also begun, Sangamo operates under a p~fnit It- sued In 1974. requiring Hint any discharges Into the small creek nearby tontntn VCRs only on o "nnn Irare.ible" level. What dors "nun-trace able" mean? ")l means." said Cliff Haw kins of the South Carolina Environmental Protection agrrrry. "Ihai if Ibeir are any traceable amount* of Wits in Ihe stream, we'd belter not find them " 'No trare," sold Haul Train*, "mean* orse part per billon tpgbl In water, that's bathginnnd levs I. Kit you'd normslly vspeet to find any where The human mind can t really roalrmplate how little that fa." March I showed an average reading of ft ppb and a 14 ppb maximum reeding Data from lire last two months be fore the rtivlt occurred showed readings of ft ft ppb. Why bad Sangamo been al lowed la routinve in violation of the limits set by Ha dis charge permit? "The rhai is from 1974." Train* explain, d. 'Viewed a steady d<-)ine in I'Clt levels " II had appeared to Train# and his staff that Sangamo was fleroilng up its operation, although il was evident tl.it VCIis still were being div rhargrd into public water ways. OnK reason foe a leu than linn enforcement policy. Trains indicated. Is. a* he puls M. "The test fur I'Clt* Is not that precise " Futllirrn.nrt, Trains (aid, limited man|u>wrr requires bi* oifitv to set priorities. "We were aware of the rcu level*," said Trains. "Out we were h aware the Creek from Sang-rmo regis tered I to 11 pph showed that, in fact, Ihe ft M area was not sealed off prvperly" said Tiam.i We found reading* et ftO ppb coming liein |he nvMif.irturIng area. I* manhole water ampin' There was another surpnv* for Fl'A sutvnifanre people S.mginio had sent Us w.Mirwatri through i,,u set lltng ponds belarr <ft<, i-. rgmg ri into Tnnn Creel. Viewnu*ly. before l'CIS< were found t Ik harmful. Ihe eo-npenjr ii.id albiwvtl I'moii to enter thr wavtewater ij :tem EVA etpeeb-d. tln-irfore. lu find aenre I'liC* in thr Invt pond. hich hail rcm-ily been b>tnMd Reading* ....... Ike sludge in the lir>t pond sMrv.ed <1 tl ppb in the aetlimenl Tesl* in th*- vn-nml pr>n<1, where d>*fh.i>rf water Mill win! tn-lnte r><t>rmi' the ereik, shownl a-iiio ,,nirl PCM trading* of M.ftOO ppt. in ll.e lu'ige "That #< seme|li.( we HONS 046897 tot didn't told Ttaln* "We ttlll don't under tend H - Men tto 1*011 enter (to ve>trnaler system at ell U dJffrrult far the raperu te on- #e>* eted. Water l* out an eumtlnt reitipeneni ol the Manufacturing protest. The proitkm to net lie in renmvinf IT.TM from the Cams elrveni et t-irlt plant*, I In ptevuiltu/j Ihim from entering v.eitc vuler line*. Mart Kit rnnt.'immetlnn ot ve*le voter itsalti (rent the State of tooth Carolina wa* regulating if* iwd-nd of dKpoial el KHronl.nolfieltd velei from lire plan}, the Inijv^Unce of pioprr dtspM.t| rm-lhoUi was gem-rally knovn nnw-n rm niton of ihe iivlgv try. N Jonaory of mi, lor eian-pie, the National lilectrh cal I.: rinrloetorm A< vwiviKci approved end pvMlshH vta>>4rt!i lor handling end dopant of PCTc Among Ik alinae. DiKlwpe wolor, conting Itom Iho pond, enton o crook pomp leak* lot* cooling atei. Bfillls, re inndr^uiir perianal hyglrr? ImbUn Tee (tor major Mi>.elcd eooree b tl<r eniKnsrtf leaeMne of wleie voter ll.tougH area* of eld ipillt In (to ihnfni'ttlng proewt, eepeeHor bvdm. each containing e rtaehli* wrapped belli ol ellenc.I.rg peper end aluminum foil, ere p'ared in 0 chamber. lie rhnmbrr to fvarvetnd end edrUered <*.' torleto etl to Iniroduted oniil M covet* tto rnporiton Ine vetoum tosum ttol the paper vltl to vellieektd lib (to fluid /aKTKH tto liHinf! opera tion, tto venium It n>le.ised, emu fluid it irinoved to the bolding tank, end tto eapaelIon are seofrj atut deoiled. I.Ven II i'Clii *m not (raking aemrhow iota (to 6>Ctonge viiit-t ol tto pintt, (to p were eviUmty emu to* tto M<l<y ituvin* due to tM^uate di-)**! iru thuds Although anther LTA oar Uvn offrn-d to dumping oo the lurlaee ol tto rrwmd"'^' wire thermal Meinnatinn. phy.leM chemical treotmeM. oHdifiearion, gcdlatm.xaitun and lb? it* ) l Klenti!ic bndltU NMitliiif ol lined cetta with anmp pumps ot l!:e boltrcn lor rwyrl'i-o )'C(h Uden k-arkate Into rhetnieal treatment ptanU At Trotfntl Ikrmp. one ol tto *t>;>crwl till* u ril hr the rer'irarlor for SMtf.vnn, larpe pth-i ot discarded eopeitw *, dicta trie 0)1 drum*. tout w ed fCI* Mien lav on lop ol the earth. i*me ton ihan :<l levi front two nitfll unints Vhieb eventually feed into Tone m-A Watti reeding? in the Itrraioi product.1 atiutll teveia of IVllV Ttalt.n said. Lvl v.vrr Ul.cn dntir.^ try mtufStr. A good rain w. id to ripoelid to depte-l I'l.'i'a lain l:-- uater. liuina s>tJ The rompany. mi<i fr.it-a. hay (,ut4 to unx.ve (He irtl <"ta:ni,tated k....!* to 0 L.ifciltll, ti mIi! sod iOmtinmt #n !'W W is naeViiMMaiiiime HONS 0S6898 PE5 tcmtm* /mi r$t* xu anna villi raver plants In in order bvH in kep- ttr.it>cr, KI*A (vlMd that ftangama kid vtililcd Ik* terms of it* discharge permit and ordered- that Ik* company ecait dlirharging Mo Ik* firsI settling find wtthl* II hours <ikr ewnpnny kid already ceased aslng Ikil pandl, that the company, IIM* II days, rum Mi compliance,uilh ill term* if IU permit; and that the company beglo mctiHarlng Kit* IB III tow-haige on * daily basis *nd Mine, reports wi weekly hssls (which the eawqumy wm already domri. ' "Th- m>4* lor al'ov-iog them II dS)V Ibid Italna, *l that mc-gnlr* twn her *1 mrerialMln, espedaily in nreurcn>ei*ls." What happens If test* after N day* rental milwid 1*011 dlirhhiMft aa similar ar Maine tmlt .7*1/ lh*y e*l or won't Comply wMh lb* aider," Mid Tiains, "aur uglle<* I* In l*r ndkrr atd*r giving Item Mm* marc ttm*. ir li refer IN matin la Ike Irdrral attorney lar Ms aellan voder U>* W*li NMM timritel Art, under a |<mlly d Ilf,- MO a day fur tack dty they tay In violation. ar w* could f*t an Infunrli^n.** The tx.'tene* af those penaHtei, slung with a provi- alen far jail term* la ulmliul actions, farm Ik* tNd do ItN* by K'A al Its system of allowing plant n-vtagera ta perform ikii ana l*CU moni toring. ___ U (he mounttone, PCR con tamination af Lake Hartwell eanlinaM at before. 1 HE General Electric trans former plant In llaotc, Ga , bar bo prwraing waste water system. Water is Bet twd dlreelly tn making Ha lrantform*n>, whleh are filled with a PCrl dielectric OB call* I'yrannl. In Oelt-her af 1171, GE applied far a permit ta dis charge cooling water back M* a tributary af the Coosa HJvcr. Shortly afterward, in done af l*7t, the Environ mental 1'n'lrctlon Division af the Gearcia Department at N*larnl resources received a complaint from a eiUrea who Uvea near the plaot. The water In a m*-h near her horns*. sh* r*ported, had touted black and ally. The lirrt inspection af the (IF. fa cility by a Slate KPA stall member resulted Jane It, llai, The plant Iw-d boor la existence stare IMI. "Hrcauia their plant ha* no pracfNalng watt* water aysterm, we dlda't even work v. 1th It until the complaint ** filed," said i-eoaard la-dbetter, director af Ihc envi ronmental pruUcUae dlvlsiaa af DN'U. Raw, then, da PCHa from the ptnal reach Hie Cent* River, recently doted ta eommeriral fish^nnea beeaor-e af high levels af PCD* la fish there? The GR plant cmpioyi lour dbehaigm lata turfaco w. -.ter*. to addltKO la a dis charge tata the cily af name's unitary sewnr sys tem. The amlace water dis charges dispose of Harm water ranofl, coollag wator, a floor drain (uvt in a PCD area and normally without discharge), hydin-tatie test water overflow from a cool ing water spray pond and steam condensate. Two af those discharges flaw tota Dry Creek, a U)h- Rr W <* V. <?tr^iaKy^ygo^T>+r- -jj- - : : f-S.s// //MS i &re& /> //,c 6,0. - 4 /)/? /.vc j S/zp./cI /i/c."/ /J& i /TATf-V' ' ,~ io~/> r- .y --T-- -- i... - , ------------------ -------- J J, A howtiCy Krowied sign worm o^oinvl Cooio River fish. ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ . vm.ii i I \ ll K. MQNS 046899 m a !i lory of the OotlsnouU ftiver, wMrh Row into the The other (wo tuil.ire div obarpea tlMv<ii>h o n.i.tll Hr, .m tt* Horscleg Orerh, which rum Into the Cov-a Him, A permit lo divel-srcr Irlo (ho shrams vat Issued lo GK In Home l:oe. 51. );*, (o spire on Arpt |ft, |<-76 i;* bn, iiun* WK placed on tul ihr pl.-n( w ji tr onlrctf to monllw Hi durluiria and report we results to DNR. "Poor bMtsrkrepIng In Ike plan!" re ported DNIt Invr .tlnaior, "had caused IgnHieaot contamination ol anl oa the plant properly." Composite sample* on (hf plant proved* ditf< PCl In the toil rangmr. (rum lew than I pph up lo TIC ppfc. <If! hrfan cleaning |> In opernUen. Hew waste o!l tod waste I'CU tani.i wit* totalled. A eatrh haem for ovrrllo* (torn radiator Rushing wan pot in "U.iU.itkSii's" 9t loading aroae ai aeeom|>lil<rd. il.rorcti- rally staling them oil Irani other druihare systems Oil-water sr|>arMon were InMallnl at two of the discharge palms whtrii m< receiving n*ot-l of (he oil and I'CM pollution. Leahy valve* were pinguid In H-stacagr dikes Karlhen dittos holding the PCli-laden Oita were concreted over Id atop leashing put of the chemfeats. Coatamlaalpd loll was pu( into drums and shipped to a ehemital landlill In Tt-aas The sante disposal methods were applied lo all rCB-rctaled wastes from the plant And, tlie clincher: The plain premised to 'phase out entirely (he manufacture of PCB-rontalning transforrorri and tire use ol PCIts bj June M, HI?. In (he lace ( such cooperation, no one let! an inrlination to in sist apan complete compli-mcr with the FDA standard* lor I'Cll dl. chaw In a water aemplinfc made by ITA and DNR in Fettfvary, IPV6, reading at live stallons ranged Iron >30 |>ph to ao trace able rcDi Water campling* made In dune ihowed PCIts at two discharge potato ranging from lew than 1 p|>b to I pph. In both cases of hrowit PCR rorMamlna- ttoo ol Georgia waters, pressure was sppllrd la the offending plants by repuMmy agen cies only oiler PCH lml eui iliu'mg danger to human* was found In lr<h Found in violation of Hs dichittgr per mit, Sanguine Eieclilr Co. in l'irl.r:,s, SC , could have received much s'.vrn-r trMime.it than the >0 day clean up a< mt Tne lake It polloted was closed to fishing while (he plant stayed open Promising lo stop use el PCI's by June dt II7T, the GK tramfonner plant in Home. Ca., continued to place fractal;!' rm?unt* ol PCBs into the Coow River. T1e GK plant ramalns open, (be Coosa River ta dc-ed to commercial (ttSing. Overnotl.ed and n'leistafk.t. the KPA enforcers looh with bepe toward the enact ment of .the lOltr Rub-lances f'on'.rvt Art, which bad pass'-d the llous? and faii.sle In varying versions and was aisiimrd to a con ferenee commiitee. If envcled, Ihe measure wojM regulate the chemical Industry on the mnnufscti-'e and aie of losle rhrmioih and five KI'A the aulkorkly lo enforce the ri*ui:..iw TM Industry would hr required lo pri- tcsl new chemical suhManerj and l.l'A would have la confirm the lesim* bel-- c they cooltl be pul into ir.e U you're really golnp. lo contml It." wM Trains of Kits ami cd'u-r t-wc rtirmicats, "you've got lo stop il at (hr sauicc" li HONS 046900