ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. — A group of Georgia lawmakers are calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to strengthen oversight of facilities that handle Trichloroisocyanuric Acid (TCCA) following a chemical fire at the BioLab plant in Conyers.
In a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, the group urges the agency to add TCCA to its Risk Management Program (RMP), which would require facilities handling the chemical to adhere to stricter safety protocols. The lawmakers also ask the EPA to address nine key questions related to safety and emergency preparedness.
The fire, which began on September 29, forced 17,000 residents to evacuate and caused portions of I-20 to shut down for nearly 17 hours. Toxic gases continue to be released from the site, raising concerns about the long-term health and environmental impacts.
The BioLab plant has experienced multiple incidents over the past two decades. In 2020, its Lake Charles, Louisiana facility faced a similar situation, resulting in a U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board investigation that highlighted gaps in regulatory oversight.
Georgia lawmakers are pressing for immediate action, citing the ongoing danger posed to local communities. The EPA has yet to respond publicly to the letter.