During the morning of May 28th, 2009, representatives of the Golden Peanut Company discovered that an above ground storage tank containing sodium hydroxide had been vandalized and approximately 5,000 gallons of sodium hydroxide was released into the environment. The majority of the product was released into the soil, with some of the free product entering a local storm drain system.
Local fire hazmat, EMA, and police responded to the scene. Due to another ongoing environmental emergency, ADEM emergency response personnel were unable to respond to the scene on the 28th. OSC Russell was dispatched to the scene by the EPA Region 4 Telephone Duty Officer. Golden Peanut Company obtained the services of an environmental cleanup contractor to mitigate the release.
