Wilbros Gets Extension on Consent Order Project
By Charlie Bauder, WNEG Radio, Toccoa
The Georgia Environmental Protection Division appears to be giving a Toccoa biofuel company more time to comply with one facet of a consent order.
EPD Assistant Director Jim Ussery says the agency granted Wilbros LLC an extension from the March 16th deadline for installation of a cover for a wastewater treatment pond.
“It has been extended until April 8 due to rainfall that has affected the construction,” said Ussery. “The cover is actually over the anaerobic pond now. They are finishing up the final elements of it.”
In granting the extension, Ussery said, however, Wilbros should take “all reasonable steps” to complete installation of the cover as quickly as possible. Ussery said, though, Wilbros is on track with compliance on the rest of the consent order.
Wilbros and the EPD entered into a consent order last December in an attempt to resolve excessive odors coming from the Rose Lane facility. When asked if the epd felt the order was working, Ussery says the agency feels it has helped.
“Just by nature of the waste we restricted them from taking, I think there is no way it could not be helping,” said Ussery. “In addition, one of the things we did was station agents up there for two weeks, monitoring what loads were coming in and coming out and responding to complaints. They noted the odors are less intense with less frequency. That does not mean that all odors have been involved.”
However, Ussery said if the consent order does not fix the problem, the EPD will require more of Wilbros in the future.
But Stephens County Marshal Tom Bennett said last week the odor is still is a problem, and he is still receiving complaints from citizens living near the plant. Bennett said he is also continuing to write the company citations.