ATLANTA — The state of Georgia says it discovered another facility is releasing dangerous levels of the cancer-causing chemical ethylene oxide.
The state has issued a violation notice to the owner of the facility BD Bard late Wednesday.
BD also owns one of the plants where the dangerous chemical was previously found.
The warehouse is located on Lochridge Boulevard in Covington. The state says medical devices made at the BD plant nearby are shipped and stored.
#breaking State of Georgia tells @wsbtv a 2nd BD facility - a Covington warehouse ALSO is emitting dangerous levels of ethylene oxide. In fall BD agreed to limit 99% of emissions at its plant - as part of that agreement it tested the warehouse - and found high emissions there too pic.twitter.com/83TW6wjy4c
— Justin Gray (@JustinGrayWSB) December 18, 2019
BD entered into a consent agreement back in the fall to install new equipment to stop 99% of the cancer-causing ethylene oxide at its plant.
As part of that agreement the state ordered the company to test the warehouse, and that is when it was discovered that it is emitting an estimated 5,600 pounds a year of the dangerous chemical into the air.
The violation letter obtained by Channel 2 investigative reporter Justin Gray said BD has no air quality permit for the warehouse and is demanding it apply for one.
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It is also ordering BD to stop sending equipment to the facility until it does.
Gov. Brian Kemp sent Gray a statement that says in part, "These results are highly concerning, and we are demanding answers from BD to remedy this unlawful activity."
The state is also ordering BD to install the same kind of equipment to limit emissions at the warehouse that it did at its plant.
BD has until Friday to respond and could face fines as high as $25,000 a day.
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