FIRE RAVAGES PERMA-FIX’S SOUTH GEORGIA CHEMICAL FACILITY

An intense fire at Perma-Fix’s South Georgia industrial waste facility last Wednesday shut down operations at the plant and injured three employees. The cause of the fire at the plant in Valdosta, Ga., and the extent of damage remains unclear. The facility did not handle any nuclear material, and specialized in treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous wastes. “The fire has been contained and we are grateful for the efforts and immediate action of the emergency responders. We are working closely with responders and local officials, and will be conducting a full investigation as soon as we can re-enter the facility,” Perma-Fix spokeswoman Anne Smith said in a written response.

While the price tag on the damage is not certain at this time, Smith noted that the financial results of the event have been reported as “discontinued operations.” She noted that the company carries general liability, property and business interruption insurance with a maximum deductible of approximately $300,000. All three injured employees are in stable condition. “We are obviously very concerned about these employees and will do everything we can to support them and their families,” Smith said. She added, “We have a culture of safe, compliant operations. We take this matter very seriously and have sent corporate resources from other facilities and departments to assist in recovery, investigation and cleanup of the site.”