Hazardous Substance Research Centers/South & Southwest

Site description

Rome was the home of a General Electric Medium Transformer Operation Facility, where polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were added to the transformers during the period from 1953 to the late 1970s. The site contains three landfills, all of which were closed in the mid to late 1970s, and which contain PCB-contaminated waste. There is concern that through stormwater runoff from the site, surrounding areas of the plant may be contaminated. Other areas of the property have also been identified as contaminated by PCBs, causing soil and groundwater contamination. Additionally, it has been reported that during the 1950s and 1960s, workers at the plant removed barrels of PCB liquids for use as a termite control method by pouring the oil around their homes. As a result, PCB contamination may have spread to other areas of Rome.

EPA has classified PCBs as a possible carcinogen, and health studies have linked PCBs to developmental disorders in children, liver disease, and hyperactivity.

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division is currently involved in testing homes for the presence of PCBs in soil, and has established a hotline for information on the site.

Organization requesting assistance

The Citizens' Action Network (CAN) is a newly formed community group with the objective of providing accurate and reliable information to the citizens of Rome, and to work with GE to get their community cleaned up.

Summary of TOSC interaction with community

The Citizens Action Network (CAN) in Rome has asked TOSC to assist them in document review and organization as a non-profit entity. The community is concerned about potential health effects from a former General Electric transformer manufacturing plant, and the associated contamination caused by PCB use. The GE property contains three landfills that contain a variety of contaminants, and there is concern that contamination from the property may have affected a nearby river as well as groundwater. Concern extends beyond the boundaries of the plant, as it has been reported that workers took PCB-contaminated liquids from the plant to use at home for weed and pest control. Currently, the community is developing a testing protocol to address health effects on citizens in the area of the plant, and it is anticipated TOSC will assist with tracking exposure pathways and developing remediation options.