CONYERS, Ga. — BioLab in Conyers is partly operational again, a company statement to CNN in a report published over the weekend indicates.
The report, which focuses on the lingering effects several residents still report from the chemical plume that followed a fire in September, includes a statement from the company that says their Conyers distribution center was cleared to reopen last week.
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"BioLab’s Distribution Center at Conyers was cleared by relevant authorities and regulators to reopen on November 4 and resume fulfilling customer orders for finished products,” the statement to CNN said.
It added, however, that manufacturing operations remain on pause.
“We are grateful that our Conyers team members have returned to work at the Distribution Center and appreciate their continued support and dedication," the statement continued. "At this time, the Conyers plant has not resumed manufacturing operations, and any resumption of operations will only be undertaken with approval from authorities and regulators."
The plume, which was the product of a reaction from materials on site used to produce pool shock (used to chlorinate pools) with sprinkler system water triggered by the fire, emanated from the BioLab site for the better part of almost three weeks in September and October.
Long-term health implications for those who were closest to the plume remains unclear. CNN this weekend spoke to residents reporting headaches, continuing blurred vision and other ongoing issues weeks after the plume cleared.
EPA monitoring in the immediate area while the plume was active, and monitoring in surrounding communities by county governments and emergency management agencies, never signaled hazardous levels requiring further evacuations after much of the city of Conyers evacuated in the first days after the fire.
Hundreds of residents nonetheless reported irritation symptoms and hospital visits, with the Georgia Department of Public Health saying few of those involved serious symptoms. Residents also reported ashy debris scattered across the area.
A number of lawsuits have been filed in the incident, which was the latest among several fires at BioLab causing disruptions in Conyers over the years; the most significant predecessor event was a 2004 fire that also required evacuations.