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EPA to Hold a Public Meeting Concerning the Virginia Carolina Chemical Company (VCC) Mobile Site

Release Date: 09/11/2014
Contact Information: James Pinkney, (404) 562-9183 (Direct), (404) 562-8400 (Main) pinkney.james@epa.gov

(ATLANTA September 11, 2014) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a Public Meeting beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, September 22, 2014 at City Hall, 226 E. Prichard Ave., Prichard, Alabama. Representatives from EPA and ExxonMobil will be available to provide information and answer questions about the Virginia Carolina Chemical Company Mobile Site.

The Virginia Carolina Chemical Company Mobile Site (the VCC Site) is a former fertilizer production plant located at 901 North Kate Street, Prichard, Alabama. The company began manufacturing fertilizer in the 1890s on approximately 24 acres and continued operation until 1961. After a series of mergers and sales, ExxonMobil is now responsible for remediation activities at the VCC Site under the oversight of the EPA. ExxonMobil neither owned the affected property during fertilizer plant operations nor operated the fertilizer plant facilities.

In May 2010, ExxonMobil’s contractor (ARCADIS) conducted a Removal Site Evaluation at the VCC Mobile Site. Soil and ground water samples were collected at the Site. Analytical results demonstrated that several soil samples exceeded health-based action levels for arsenic and lead and that two ground water samples exceeded the health-based action levels for arsenic. In April 2014, EPA performed additional assessment activities on properties located west of the former phosphate plant property boundary. None of the sample results exceeded health-based action levels for arsenic or lead.

The potentially responsible parties (PRPs) are on schedule to begin preparation for the removal action beginning in September 2014. The work will also consist of a proposed road closure along N. Kate St. (between Lilly St. and Polar St. during the site activity timeframe.
Community members interested in obtaining additional information are encouraged to contact Sherryl A. Lane, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator, at (877) 718-3752 or 404-562-8611.
For more information about the Site, please visit: http://www.epaosc.org/VCCMobile Connect with EPA Region 4 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion4 And on Twitter: @EPASoutheast

ATTENTION: A media availability session will be held at City Hall, 226 E. Prichard Ave., Prichard Alabama from 5:00 to 5:30 p.m. on Monday, September 22, 2014. EPA and ExxonMobil will be available to answer media questions concerning the Site. This arrangement will allow for the public to use the entire public meeting to get information and have their questions answered.


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