United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region IV
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

The Cannon Road Drum Site (formerly Social Circle Cotton Mill) is located at 148 Cannon Road in the city of Social Circle in Walton County, Georgia. The site coordinates, as measured from the front entrance to the property, is N 33.65252 Latitude by W 83.72062 Longitude. The site is bordered on the south and west by residential homes and on the north and east by a railroad and an overgrown field, respectively. Many of the old mill houses along the western and southern sides of the site are still occupied.

The Social Circle Cotton Mill operated at the site from 1901 until 1982. The mill manufactured bed sheeting made from 35% cotton and 65% polyester. During its peak the mill employed 225 workers. In April 1994, the mill's main structure was severely damaged by fire. Less than half of the 3-story brick structure remains standing today. There are also several support buildings for the mill in varying stages of decay on the 3.84-acre site.

The site was referred to EPA by the city of Social Circle. Records indicate the property has been leased for various types of business use. The most recent tenant used the property to store several thousand containers of mixed hazardous substances. The bulk of the materials appears to have been procured from Department of Defense surplus. In 1997, the containers were abandoned at the site when business operations ceased at the property.

The abandoned substances include resins, adhesives, mercury amalgam, cleaning solvents, paint thinners and some unknowns. Incompatible containers of hazardous substances are commingled together and vary in size, type and degree of degradation.  Evidence of vagrant trespass and vandalism was observed during EPA's December 2006 reconnaissance of the site.

On May 22, 2007, EQ of Atlanta began shipment of staged pallets and drums at the Cannon Road Drum site.  Initial shipments included flammable solids, flammable liquids, waste adhesives, waste paint related materials, and non-hazardous waste.  Waste shipped offsite on May 23, 2007, included non-hazardous waste oil, non-hazardous solids, and universal waste.  Waste shipped offsite on May 24, 2007, included waste flammable liquids, waste adhesives, waste paint related materials, and waste chloroform.  Waste shipped offsite on May 25, 2007, included lab pack chemicals and corrosive liquids.

Continue shipment of staged pallets and drums.

Initiate demobilization plan.

Expect removal actions to be completed by Thursday, May 31, 2007 with personnel and equipment demobilization to follow on Friday June 1, 2007.