Ogeechee Fish Kil
EPA’S REGULATION OF KING AMERICA
FINISHING, INC
PADM 6830
Professor Murray
04/23/2012
Politics surrounding the Ogeechee River Fish Kill
On May 19th, 2011, over 38,000 fish were found dead along an 80 mile stretch of the Ogeechee River near Savannah Georgia in Screven County. This number also included around 15 different species as well. This fish kill was and is the largest of its sort in the history of the state of Georgia. Investigations later revealed that the fish died from columnaris, which can be a deadly bacterial disease when fish have been weakened by other stressors. King America Finishing plant, which is located along the Ogeechee River, became the target of further investigation due to the fact that the dead fish only appeared downstream from the plant, and none were found upstream from the plant. The plant also has a discharge pipe which dispenses into the river. After several visits to the plant pursuant to the fish kill, the Environmental Protection Division discovered that the company had been making numerous unauthorized discharges into the Ogeechee River, of flame-retardant chemicals for over the past five years. Even more surprising was the lack of knowledge that the EPD had of the discharge line, despite the fact that is own inspectors were said to have inspected the plant up to six time since 2006. King America Finishing had failed to inform the EPD that it had a new discharge line, which is required of them under their permit. “EPD rules require companies to notify the department when they want to add new discharge lines, then the state can decide whether to issue a permit. But that didn’t happen in this case, state officials said (Savannah, 2011).” Yet even still, many feel that this is inexcusable on the EPD’s behalf. After the investigations begin to dwindle down and a reasonable conclusion of who was to blame was drawn, the EPD proposed a million dollar payment
FINISHING, INC
PADM 6830
Professor Murray
04/23/2012
Politics surrounding the Ogeechee River Fish Kill
On May 19th, 2011, over 38,000 fish were found dead along an 80 mile stretch of the Ogeechee River near Savannah Georgia in Screven County. This number also included around 15 different species as well. This fish kill was and is the largest of its sort in the history of the state of Georgia. Investigations later revealed that the fish died from columnaris, which can be a deadly bacterial disease when fish have been weakened by other stressors. King America Finishing plant, which is located along the Ogeechee River, became the target of further investigation due to the fact that the dead fish only appeared downstream from the plant, and none were found upstream from the plant. The plant also has a discharge pipe which dispenses into the river. After several visits to the plant pursuant to the fish kill, the Environmental Protection Division discovered that the company had been making numerous unauthorized discharges into the Ogeechee River, of flame-retardant chemicals for over the past five years. Even more surprising was the lack of knowledge that the EPD had of the discharge line, despite the fact that is own inspectors were said to have inspected the plant up to six time since 2006. King America Finishing had failed to inform the EPD that it had a new discharge line, which is required of them under their permit. “EPD rules require companies to notify the department when they want to add new discharge lines, then the state can decide whether to issue a permit. But that didn’t happen in this case, state officials said (Savannah, 2011).” Yet even still, many feel that this is inexcusable on the EPD’s behalf. After the investigations begin to dwindle down and a reasonable conclusion of who was to blame was drawn, the EPD proposed a million dollar payment
References: Barton, T. (2011, September 06). Ogeechee River Fish Kill: Channel the Outrage. Retrieved April 2011, from Savannah Morning News: www.savannahnow.com/share/blogspot-posst/tom-barton/2011-06-09/ogeechee-river-fish-kill-channel-outrage Carter, B. (2011, 9 30). Ogeechee Dilemma: Jobs vs. River. Retrieved April 17, 2012, from Savannah Morning News: www.savannahnow.com/column/2011-09-30/carter-ogeechee-dillemma-jobs-vs-river Landers, M. (2011, September 22). Company Faces $1 million Sanction for Polluting Ogeechee . Retrieved April 2011, from Savannah Morning News: http://savannahnow.com/news/2011-09-22/company-faces-1-million-sanction-polluting-ogeechee#.TsvjZ1YepmR Landers, M. (2011, September 26). Ogeechee supporters urge greater penalty for polluter. Retrieved April 2011, from Savannah Morning News: http://m.savannahnow.com/news/2011-09-26/ogeechee-supporters-urge-greater-penalty-polluter Pavey, R. (2011, September 21). Textile Plant to pay $1million in Ogeechee River Fish Kill. Retrieved April 2011, from The Augusta Chronicle: http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/business/2011-09-21/textile-plant-pay-1-million-ogeechee-river-fish-kill Savannah. (2011, September 22). Editorial: Ogeechee Fish Kill: Outrageous Settlement. Retrieved April 2011, from Savannah Morning News: www.savannahnow.com/opinion/2011-09-22/editorial-ogeechee-fish-kill-outrageous-settlement