Textile plant commits to eliminating 'forever chemicals' that pollute Ogeechee River
By next year, the nearly-300 mile Ogeechee River may lose a major pollutant to its ecosystem. The Ogeechee is part of the Savannah Upper Ogeechee River Region, which provides a portion of the region's drinking and agricultural water, according to Georgia's Water Planning.
One problematic group of pollutants found in the river is per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFAs, some of which enter the water in Screven County. On Feb. 22, Milliken & Company promised, by the end of 2022, to eliminate all PFAs from its textile facilities, including the Longleaf Plant in Sylvania, which sits very close to the river.
Related: Ogeechee River, Okefenokee on Georgia Water Coalition annual ’Dirty Dozen’ list
PFAs are man-made chemicals that have been used in industrial and consumer products since the 1940s, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. However, high exposure has been linked to health problems like increased risk of cancer, decreased fertility and developmental delays in children.
“As part of our sustainability journey, we are committed to finding innovative and meaningful solutions to reduce our environmental impact," Halsey Cook, president and CEO for Milliken & Company. "While we do not always begin our journey with perfect information, we strive to make adjustments as new information comes to light."
In 2020, the Ogeechee Riverkeeper conducted a pilot study on some of the river's fish and found varying levels of PFAs. According to the Great Lakes Consortium guidelines, the amount of PFAs found indicated people should only eat the river's fish, at most, twice a week. However, a 2019 study conducted by federal and academic researchers found that PFA concentrations in whole fish may be double or even triple those findings..
Ogeechee Riverkeeper executive director Damon Mullis called Milliken's commitment a "major step in removing pollutants and contaminants from all of our waterways" and that they will continue to monitor for compliance.
The plant has a bad history with environmental concerns. In 2011, when it was the King America Finishing plant, it was the site of a fish kill that left 38,000 fish dead. The Ogeechee Riverkeeper sued under the federal Clean Water Act, which resulted in, among other punishments, a payout of $2.5 million.
Milliken bought the plant in 2014, but there have still been issues. According to the facility's Environmental Protection Division report, there have been multiple violations for the presence of coliform bacteria between 2018 and 2022.
The Sylvania Telephone attempted to contact Milliken & Company for comment. No response was received as of Sunday.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Textile plant to halt 'forever chemicals' polluting Ogeechee River
