Pinova Closure

The permanent closure of the Pinova plant will not impede the ongoing remediation work Hercules has been undertaking at the site. Hercules will be collaborating with Pinova throughout the shut-down/decommissioning of the facility, which will take place in the coming months.

April 15 Fire at Pinova

Hercules is grateful to the first responders, fire and public safety officials who contained a fire that occurred at the Pinova facility. The first priority is to ensure safety at the facility. At this point, the fire has not interrupted Hercules environmental remediation work.  

Hercules is dedicating time, expertise and resources toward completing its environmental work at the former Hercules plant site, now owned and operated by Pinova, Inc. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) approved Hercules’ Corrective Action Plan and modified the permit necessary for the work to occur. This action follows many years of investigation and remediation performed under earlier phases of the EPD-led remediation work. 

Several public meetings and public comment periods were held over the years, most recently in January 2023.

During the past two and one-half years, Hercules stabilized 7,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil at the facility, installed 34 groundwater treatment wells, surveyed 35 site buildings to evaluate vapor intrusion, installed three vapor mitigation systems, and retrofitted five additional buildings to eliminate any potential vapor intrusion risk. Building on these accomplishments, soil and groundwater work is continuing through 2023 including removal of 1,500 cubic yards of contaminated soil at the facility and additional groundwater treatment.

An important goal for Hercules is to return eligible portions of the site to the community for redevelopment and reuse.

Construction work along Terry Creek is obvious to motorists along Highway 17 and the causeway. Hercules is building an interim remedy selected by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the Terry Creek outfall ditch. The remedy involves capping and eliminating the potential exposure to ditch sediments, including the construction of a new conveyance channel that will be completed this summer. The conveyance channel will be fitted with a manatee gate to prevent manatees from swimming into the plant. An aim is to enhance the property’s potential for re-use.