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.
Golden Peanut Company has hired an environmental response cleanup contractor to mitigate the release. The initial assessment indicates that the majority of the product has released into the soil, however, some of the product has entered into a nearby storm drain.
Eight roll-offs of contaminated soil were generated today due to the removal of contaminated soil. The majority of contaminated soil has been removed.
An initial flushing of the storm drain indicated that there is sodium hydroxide located within the storm drain.
While conducting an assessment to determine the extent of contamination, a broken (15 inch) sanitary sewage line was discovered discharging into the storm drain. OSC Russell and ADEM personnel made contact with City of Dothan Public Works officials and mitigation efforts were initiated. The ruptured pipe was patched during the evening of the 29th.
Removal activities concentrating on the contaminated soil and the product remaining in the storm drain, will continue on the 30th.
Continue removing contaminated soil, backfilling from the soil removal, and mitigating the product released into the storm drain.
The sanitary sewage line rupture may limit access to possible areas of NaOh contaminated storm water.
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