United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region IV
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

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.

During this reporting period, the following activities were completed:
Crews removed the NaOH contaminated soil, resulting in the generation of eight roll-off boxes full of contaminated soil.
After an "overflow" dam was erected in the storm water drainage ditch, the drain was flushed several times.  The flushing activities resulted in over 10,500 gallons of NaOH contaminated water being generated.  This waste stream has been placed in a Frac tank located at the facility. Once the flushing procedures were completed, normal ph levels were noted.

Removal Actions have been completed both on-site, as well as in the storm drain system.

ADEM officials will oversee the disposal actions of the RP and their contractors.  It is anticipated that all of the roll-offs will be removed by June 3rd and the contaminated water housed in the Frac tank will be removed shortly thereafter.

Minimal press coverage.