Sante Fe-Helena Chemical Co., which inspectors say has had unauthorized discharges of dry and liquid fertilizers and an herbicide, has submitted a first-phase cleanup plan for groundwater contamination at its Lake Arthur warehousing facility, according to the New Mexico Environment Dept. Helena sells and stores agricultural chemicals at the property, along with crop seeds, including corn, cotton, and alfalfa. No chemicals are manufactured at the facility. Helena also operates a fertilizer warehouse in Mesquite, N.M., that has been tangling for some time with the state over environmental issues. “The plan ensures Helena investigates and cleans up groundwater pollution to protect local residents and the environment,” said Environmental Protection Division Director Jim Norton. Norton told Green Markets the groundwater pollution is one of a string of violations against the company. “They don’t have a very good track record,” he remarked. “They’ve had a number of notices of violation over the past few years, including failure to have a permit for operations, groundwater pollution and a third for air pollution issues.” He said one of those involved failure to keep pollution from escaping from the factory by keeping the warehouse doors closed. NMED required the company to submit the Stage 1 Abatement Plan proposal in November. The company installed 13 soil borings and six wells to monitor groundwater at the facility. Water samples from those wells detected contamination of nitrate, chloride, sulfate, fluoride, and total dissolved solids contamination in groundwater above state groundwater standards. The depth to ground water across the site ranges from approximately 20 to 25 feet below ground surface. The plan proposes the installation of monitoring wells and the collection of additional soil and groundwater samples to define the extent of soil and groundwater contamination. After the initial investigation is completed, Helena must submit a Stage 2 cleanup proposal to NMED. Helena is required to issue a public notice for the Stage 2 cleanup within 30 days of submitting the proposal to NMED. The public will have an opportunity to comment on the Stage 2 cleanup proposal and request a hearing or meeting. Written public comment will be sought by NMED within 60 days of determining that the cleanup proposal is administratively complete.
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