Agrico, others agree to $8.5 million Landia cleanup

Atlanta, Ga.-Agrico Chemical Co. and BASF Sparks LLC are among those agreeing to clean up contamination at the Landia Chemical Co. Superfund site in Lakeland, Fla., according to an EPA announcement. Pesticides were produced on the site for nearly a half century, as well as fertilizer on adjacent property. The settlement, approved by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, commits the companies to fund and complete an $8.5 million cleanup at the 5-acre site and reimburse EPA for future oversight costs. Other parties are PCS Joint Venture, Ltd., Sylvite Terminal & Distribution LLC, and the individuals Billy G. Mitchell and Walter G. Grahn. According to EPA, pesticide manufacturing, blending, and formulating operations were conducted on the Landia property from 1940 until 1987 by Landia Chemical Co., Agrico Chemical Co., and the now-defunct Standard Spray and Chemical Co. Also, Standard Spray and Chemical Co. stockpiled sulfur directly on the adjacent Florida Favorite Fertilizer (FFF) property. These operations resulted in the release of various pesticides, metals, semi-volatile organic compounds, and volatile organic compounds into the environment. EPA concluded in a 2007 record of decision that: (1) the cleanup of the property should involve excavation and off-site disposal of contaminated soil; (2) in situ chemical oxidation treatment of groundwater in pesticide source areas should be carried out to address the highest ground water contaminant concentrations; (3) in situ bioremediation should begin in other selected areas to enhance the natural attenuation process; and (4) a performance monitoring plan should be performed to evaluate the effectiveness of the soil cleanup approach and the ground water interim action on ground water contaminant concentrations. EPA also wants to establish institutional controls to ensure the future use of the Landia and former FFF properties remains industrial, to restrict the use of contaminated ground water, and to ensure any engineering barriers that are relied upon are maintained.