Federal Government Considers Savannah River Site Near Augusta for Mercury Storage

The federal government is considering the Savannah River Site near Augusta, along with six other sites, for the storage of more than 10,000 metric tons of mercury.

Officials are searching for a site to store the mercury, as federal law will ban the sale or export of the element by 2013, and require the federal government to store it.

Mercury is produced in the manufacturing of caustic soda and chlorine at a handful of plants in the U.S. It's also a by-product in gold mining, and in recycling and waste recovery.

Mercury is controversial, since it causes developmental disabilities in children, and also harm fetal development.

It's already a sore spot in Augusta, where environmental groups have been calling for the Olin Corporation to stop using the element in the manufacture of chlorine. A bill in Congress also seeks to eliminate mercury from the few chlorine plants that still use it. Olin, meanwhile, has maintained that is mercury use its safe.

The Savannah River Site is a massive federal entity that processes nuclear materials near Augusta.

The U.S. Department of Energy, meanwhile, will hold a public comment period on the proposal to store mercury. There will be a public meeting in North Augusta, South Carolina on July 30.

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New Report Shows High Mercury Levels In Fish Downstream Of Augusta

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control say that anglers should not eat any large-mouth bass caught in the portion of the Savannah River south of Augusta.

They have put up warning signs because too much mercury can cause damage to internal organs. On the Georgia side, there are no such warnings.

Sonya Bonitatibus is a spokesperson for the environmental group Savannah River Keeper. She says that Georgia trails South Carolina when it comes to warning its citizens about mercury levels in the river.

"There is nothing in law stating that they have to restrict the amounts of mercury that are being put in the Savannah River. South Carolina does recognize that there is a problem. A good way to notice that is when you go on the South Carolina side they have the fish advisory warnings, the big signs sitting there right on the boat landings. Georgia does not offer that to it’s citizens."

The data used in the report was compiled over a 3 year period and involved testing 15 different species of fish.

It shows that further up river in Augusta it’s okay to eat fish. The mercury levels are significantly lower.

The Savannah River Keeper speculates that the mercury comes from various chemical industries on the south side of town.

Congressional Bill Would End Mercury Use in Chlorine Plants

A U.S. House subcommittee has approved a measure that would require chemical plants manufacturing chlorine and caustic soda to stop using mercury.

Olin Corporation in Augusta is one of a handful of plants that uses mercury to make chlorine.

Supporters of the measure say that technology is outdated and harmful to the environment.

Olin, meanwhile, says its manufacturing process is safe.

Mercury is toxic, and can cause neurological problems in both children and fetuses.

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Bill would affect Olin Corporation in Augusta

Congress is considering a bill that would phase out the use of mercury in the manufacturing of chlorine and caustic soda.

Olin Corporation in Augusta would be affected by the measure. It produces both chlorine and caustic soda.

It's one of four U.S. plants that use mercury in that manufacturing process, yet haven't committed to phasing it out.

The bill would end the mercury use in any U.S. plant producing the chemicals by 2012.

The congressional sponsors say there are safer alternatives.

Mercury is toxic. It causes neurological problems in children and fetuses.

Environmentalists here worry that mercury deposits, particularly in the Savannah River, increase exposure to it.

"Over the past couple of decades we've begun to realize just how toxic mercury is and how insidious it is," says Frank Carl, director of the Savannah Riverkeeper.

Olin, meanwhile, maintains that its use of mercury is safe.

Olin Corporation mercury remediation plan drawing controversy

Environmental groups in Georgia worry that a plan to contain mercury at a chemical plant might be dangerous.

Olin Corporation in Augusta uses mercury to produce chlorine.

Mercury is toxic, especially to a fetus.

Company officials say it's in the sediment of a drainage canal at the plant.

In an effort to contain the mercury, they want to cover the canal with a special plastic material, soil and grass, and close the mouth of the canal with a double steel sheet piled wall.

They then want to use an existing pipe to discharge wastewater with mercury into the Savannah River.

But some environmental groups worry that the plan would only shift contamination to sediment in the river, making the situation worse.

"The microorganisms in the sediments convert that mercury to methyl mercury...The methyl mercury works its way up the food chain...and it contaminates the fish...so eating the fish is the problem," said Frank Carl, director of the Savannah Riverkeeper.

Olin says it plans to discharge only a third of what the federal government considers a safe level of mercury.

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division is reviewing Olin's mercury remediation plan, which a company offcial say is voluntary.

Spotlight on chlorine plant's mercury emissions

A Georgia chlorine plant is on an environmental group’s list of worst mercury polluters. Washington-based Oceana says Olin Corporation’s Augusta plant gives off more mercury than coal-fire power plants. The group works to stop seafood contamination. However, Olin says the company meets all regulations on mercury emissions.

Georgia could toughen mercury laws

Georgia is considering some of the Southeast's toughest mercury guidelines. The goal is to reduce mercury emissions into Georgia’s waterways. The state Board of Natural Resources is considering a plan to require Georgia Power to install new pollution controls at six of its 10 coal-burning power plants. The plants emit thousands of pounds of mercury each year into the water, which gets into fish, which in turn can contaminate the people eating them. The federal government estimates some 20,000 Georgians are born each year with high mercury levels, which studies have linked to developmental delays, blindness and even death.