EPA monitoring chemical from facility causing ‘smell’ in Mason, Gallia counties

OHIO/WEST VIRGINIA (WOWK) – Environmental and government agencies on both sides of the Ohio River are monitoring air quality after a chemical at a Mason County chemical plant caused an odor in the area.

According to the Ohio EPA, their offices began receiving complaints of a chemical smell in the Gallipolis area around Aug. 18. The Division of Air Pollution Control began an investigation and determined the source of the smell was the ICL-IP Chemical facility in Gallipolis Ferry in Mason County, West Virginia. Officials in West Virginia say they also began receiving complaints from residents around the plant.

Ohio EPA officials say the cause of the odor is “an apparent release of Xylenol compounds.”

According to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Xylenol has a low vapor pressure and doesn’t easily become airborne. It does, however, have an extremely low odor threshold, which means even trace amounts can produce a noticeable odor. They say when it’s treated in an open-air system, the odor is detectable at low concentrations, especially in weather conditions such as fog, calm air or early-morning temperature inversions.

A spokesperson for the WVDEP says they were notified Monday that the internal release of the Xylenol. According to the WVDEP, the Xylenol was contained within ICL’s internal wastewater system and did not discharge into any state waters.

According to the WVDEP, ICL suspended discharges of the Xylenol, halted operations and started sampling at 10 locations across its system to make sure the issue is properly treated. They are also working to discharge the treated material.

The WVDEP is leading the investigation and the U.S. EPA Region 3 is helping to monitor air quality on both sides of the river near Gallipolis, according to the Ohio EPA. According to the WVDEP, the testing has “not detected any chemicals of concern to date in the air outside of the facility.” They also say they are not aware of any “widespread” health issues from the smell.

The three agencies, along with the local EMA, the Gallia County Health Department and Gallipolis City managers are working together on this investigation. The Ohio EPA says more information should be available next week.

As of now, the the WVDEP says they have issued Notices of Violations and an enforcement order to ICL regarding the operation and maintenance of its wastewater system and for failing to follow proper notification protocols.