On 12-Feb-07 Alabama Dept. of Env. Management (ADEM) was notified, by Hancock Forest Management (HFM), of abandoned drums on a wooded property owned by John Hancock Life Insurance Company. HFM requested ADEM to investigate the drums as to content and possible criminal activity. HFM, the property manager, is a subsidiary of Hancock Timber Resource Group and leases the property to a hunting club. The property consists of approximately 200 acres and is surrounded by farm and residential land. ADEM performed some “haz-catting” of the containers, the results indicate possible incompatible hazardous materials staged next to each other. ADEM notified U.S. EPA Region 4 on Friday, 2-16-07. On 2-21-07 OSC Ken Rhame mobilized to the site to provide an assessment. Noticing the potential threat, he is currently in discussions with HFM to have them removed.
