Superfund cleanup at Florida chemical plant site begins
The Victor Chemical Company built a plant on 130 acres along the Anclote River in Florida in 1947 and began producing elemental phosphorous along with more than 30 toxic chemical waste products—including asbestos, lead, arsenic and radium-226—poisoning the soil, air and water. Victor Chemical closed its doors in 1960, and Stauffer Chemical Company bought the plant and continued to operate it until the plant was closed for good in 1981.
The site was added to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund list in 1994. After years of debate, cleanup is finally due to begin in May and is expected to wrap up in July 2011. Stauffer Chemical will provide funding for the estimated $10 million project. Company spokespeople say that the prime riverfront land will never be suitable for people to live on, and that they hope to find an alternate use for the property.
For the full story, go to St. Petersburg Times.
