Tuesday, 10/09/07

Residents oppose Harpeth River cleanup plan

FRANKLIN — A proposal that would allow chemicals to continue draining into the Harpeth River is headed for a showdown with Liberty Creek neighbors and the river's local watchdog group.

After months of cleanup, engineers at TriAd Environmental Consultants will recommend Wednesday to state environmental officials a plan allowing chemicals that have already leaked from paint-maker Egyptian Lacquer Manufacturing Co. to continue draining into the creek because of the difficulty of removing the solvents from underground.

But residents on nearby Daniels Drive and officials with the Harpeth River Watershed Association say they will appear at the public meeting to oppose the plan.

"To let it drain is wrong for the neighbors, and it's wrong for anybody that cares about the Harpeth River," said Pam Davee, association development director. "It's an ongoing pollution issue and it's affecting water quality. Just to let it continue like this is not acceptable."

Resident Scott Martin has been putting up flyers and calling neighbors to get the word out among his neighbors to attend this week's meeting.

"We want as many people there as possible so everybody understands what's going on," Martin said. "It's kind of been like pulling teeth to get people to pay attention to it."

The meeting this week allows the public to comment on the plan before state Department of Environment and Conservation officials decide whether to accept it. According to TDEC spokeswoman Meg Lockhart, the department will issue its decision on the plan by early November.

Cleanup isn't complete

The chemicals acetone and toluene have leaked for months from the plant. How long they continue to seep into the river depends on the volume of underground water as well as the amount of the chemicals.

The leak likely occurred because of improperly wrapped underground pipes, first installed in 1978. The pipes are connected to the storage tanks at the plant's Eddy Lane facility, Egyptian Lacquer officials have said.

Since the leaks were discovered, the company has reportedly spent more than $600,000 on cleanup efforts, including digging huge trenches to intercept the chemicals flowing into nearby Liberty Creek.

Though the trenches appear to be containing the flow of toluene into the creek, acetone continues to leak from "seeps" along the river, though the amount has decreased.

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