EPD officials have cleared two local industries with regard to pollutants in a creek that runs from the area of the B-LC Industrial Park to Potato Creek. The Herald Gazette/barnesville.com first reported the issue Tuesday. Kevin Chambers, a spokesman for Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division, reported Friday the EPD investigation has ended. ”We can’t find any evidence linking the substances to any business or industry,” Chambers said. He said the City of Thomaston has taken samples of the water. Additionally, two faculty members from Gordon State College have sampled the water as well, The Herald Gazette has learned. Chambers said a watershed impact assessment found wildlife along the creek stable. However, a citizen provided a photo Friday of a dead bird in the creek muck. Russell Schweiss of Rayonier had contended all along that his plant was not the source. “Our operation is a chip mill. It is a totally mechanical process. There is nothing there that could go into the creek,” Schweiss said. EPD may now turn its attention to the padlocked location on Roger Brown Drive that formerly was home to Greenco Environmetnal which was shut down after a torrent of citizen complaints regarding the stench emanating from its composting operation.
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