Hazardous Substance Research Centers/South & Southwest

Site location

Unionburg, Unionville, and Phillipsburg communities of Tifton, Georgia

Site description

From 1979-1987, a private recycling facility near the communities cited above collected hazardous waste flue dust generated by steel mills. Contamination of the site itself and other sites around the Tifton area occurred as a result of illegal dumping of the hazardous waste. The dust, characterized as KO61, contains cadmium, chromium, and lead as the major hazardous constituents. Through a series of consent orders between the company and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, work has begun to clean up the areas contaminated by the flue dust.

Organization requesting assistance

Informal group from impacted communities

Beginning date of assistance

October 1997

Summary of TOSC assistance

TOSC has been working with various community members and groups to provide technical assistance and report evaluation in order to help the community play a greater role in the clean up process and more fully understand their options regarding remediation of the contamination and future plans for the community.

Currently, the efforts of the Community, EPD, the steel companies, and TOSC focus on identifying the extent of KO61 contamination in a cemetery adjacent to the contamination site. The parties have developed a sampling plan designed to delineate vertical and horizontal dimensions of the contaminants. Should contamination be found, the ultimate question of whether or not to remediate any contamination will be addressed.