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State adds new rules for BD plant in Madison using ethylene oxide

The BD plant will stay open while Covington plant suspends operations

MADISON, Ga. — The agreement that shut down a plant in Covington that uses ethylene oxide adds new rules for another plant that does the same thing just a few miles up the road. The BD plant in Madison will stay open while its counterpart in Covington closes temporarily.  

The Madison BD plant has sidestepped much of the ethylene oxide controversy endured by its counterpart in Covington. 

"It's just not on the radar as much here," said Madison city manager David Nunn.

He says the city has considered installing air monitoring stations near the plant, as the city of Covington did recently, but has no plan to do it. Nunn says residents aren't clamoring for local officials to scrutinize the Madison plant - the way they've done in Covington, and near the Sterigenics plant in Cobb County.

RELATED: BD Covington plant has agreed to temporary shutdown

State records show that the Madison plant uses about one-third less of the cancer-causing compound as the BD plant in Covington. Both plants use ethylene oxide, which regulators describe as a carcinogen, to sterilize medical equipment. Sterigenics is a separate company that does the same thing.

State records show the Madison plant last reported an ethylene oxide leak in 2006. It was a 30 pound leak. By comparison, the Covington plant inadvertently leaked 54 pounds of ethylene oxide in September.

RELATED: Doctors group says ethylene oxide is necessary despite cancer concerns

Nunn says the BD plant in Madison has been a good neighbor, which employs 30 people. 

"I’m fine with what they're doing. They seem to be covering their bases as far as the possible releases," Nunn said.

Some residents we met weren't so sure.

"I think it’s not safe," said David Harvey, a resident of nearby Shady Dale.

RELATED: 3rd plant gets scrutiny for ethylene oxide leaks

Sandi Morris agreed.  

"I think it needs to be closed or have very, very, very, very strict environmental regulations on it," she said.

The Madison plant will get greater state oversight in the coming weeks. 

  • The plant has agreed to weekly monitoring as it enacts a new leak detection program
  • It has agreed to install new “fugitive emission” controls by May 2020.
  • It has agreed to submit weekly reports to the state on its use of ethylene oxide
  • And it will submit a new state permit application by December 15.

RELATED: Open valve at sterilization plant was leaking cancer-causing gas into community for a week

"We’re satisfied. I think the mayor and council are satisfied," Nunn said. "At least with what we know right now, the EPD is on it."

What the Covington plant won’t do is close – as its BD counterpart will do for a week in Covington, and as the Sterigenics plant in Cobb County has done indefinitely

BD’s plant in Madison also will not ramp up its production to make up for work lost when the Covington plant temporarily closes later this week.  That agreement is also in the court-approved consent order.

RELATED: Cobb Co. and Covington to pay for air testing after concerns about emissions

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