미국 환경보호청(EPA)은 헤거스타운(Hagerstown) 중앙 화학 수퍼펀드 사이트(Central Chemical Superfund site)에서 1천430만 달러 이상의 페기물 및 토양오염의 안정화를 합의한 16개 기업을 발표했다. 또한 기업들은 정화의 지속적인 간과와 관련된 과거와 미래의 비용으로 단체에 94만5천 달러를 보상할 예정이다.

16개 기업은 △아케마(Arkema Inc) △바이엘크롭사이언스(Bayer Cropscience, LP) △FMC Corporation △허니웰인터내셔널(Honeywell International) △Lebanon Seaboard Corporation △Montrose Chemical Corporation of California △Occidental Chemical Corporation △올린(Olin Corporation) △롬앤하스(Rohm and Haas Company) △롱프랭(Rhone-Poulenc) △Shell Oil Company △신젠타크롭프로텍션(Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC) △케무어스(The Chemours Company FC, LLC) △유니언카바이드(Union Carbide Corporation) △Wilmington Securities △21st Century Fox America, Inc 등이다.

Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement involving 16 companies that have agreed to stabilize and cap waste and contaminated soils at the Central Chemical Superfund site in the city of Hagerstown, Md., for more than $14.3 million. In addition, the companies will reimburse the Agency $945,000 for past and future costs related to its ongoing oversight of the cleanup.

The 16 companies include: Arkema Inc.; Bayer Cropscience, LP; FMC Corporation; Honeywell International, Inc.; Lebanon Seaboard Corporation; Montrose Chemical Corporation of California; Occidental Chemical Corporation; Olin Corporation; Rohm and Haas Company; Rhone-Poulenc; Shell Oil Company; Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC; The Chemours Company FC, LLC; Union Carbide Corporation; Wilmington Securities, Inc.; and 21st Century Fox America, Inc.

The EPA-approved cleanup plan for contaminated soils and waste at the Central Chemical site includes on-site solidification and stabilization of a former waste lagoon; excavation, consolidation and capping of contaminated soils; and installation of a groundwater treatment system. The Agency and companies are still investigating cleanup of contaminated groundwater at the site.

From the early 1930s until the mid-1980s, Central Chemical Corporation blended agricultural pesticides and fertilizers at its Hagerstown facility. The pesticide-blending operation involved mixing inert materials with pesticides manufactured elsewhere to produce commercial grade products. Contaminants found at the site include pesticides and heavy metals.

The proposed consent decree, of which the State of Maryland is a party along with EPA, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and court approval.

[출처 = Water World / 2015년 8월 18일]