Mercury Spill Halts Production at Olin Plant

Olin Chemical says it has stopped production its Charleston, TN chlor-alkali facility after mercury was spilled into a local river due to record-breaking rainfall. The excessive rain from Tropical Storm Lee filled Olin’s discharge treatment lagoon until it overflowed, releasing about 50 lbs of mercury into the Hiwasee River over the course of three days. Olin says it is normally permitted to release on 70 lbs/year of mercury. Despite the company’s preparations for increased rainfall, the water treatment system at the plant could not support the...

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