JCI Attempts to Protect Drinking Water
JCI Jones Chemicals Inc. is continuing their ongoing investigation of the soil, groundwater and soil gas in Los Angeles. According to reports, chlorinated solvents and benzene were found near the supply plant and the company is now working with the U.S Environmental Protection Agency to protect the environment and local residents that could potentially be affected.
Jones is still in operation and is located next to what was formerly the Montrose Chemical dichlorodiphenyl-trichloroethane ( DDT ) manufacturing plant. A spokesman person for the company says the Montrose Corporation of California is working on studies pertaining to the chemical problems at the site. They are also working to create a cleanup plan to prevent employees and locals from suffering the side effects of benzene exposure.
State Implements Cleanup Agreement
Under the new cleanup agreement proposed by the state, Jones will be supplementing the Montrose work by further investigating the contamination at the site, which is part of the Montrose Chemical Superfund Site. The site was added as a Superfund Site in 1989 by the EPA.
“We’re ordering JCI Jones Chemicals to take the steps needed to prevent hazardous chemicals from spreading into drinking water wells or entering into the air and nearby buildings,” explains Mike Montgomery, the Assistant Director for Superfund, Region 9, EPA. “This work gives a boost to our continuing efforts to identify and address all of the contamination.”
Previous sampling of the groundwater and soil at the site confirmed that the JCI Jones Chemicals plant is contaminated with benzene and other carcinogenic chemicals. This obviously causes concern among health officials and workers at the plant since exposure to benzene has been linked to various forms of cancer, including leukemia and MDS.
