Former contamination site being monitored

PANAMA CITY – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection reports that a contamination site off Jenks Avenue is being monitored but is not in active remediation.

ABB Inc, the company that initiated the cleanup back in 1993, is required to continue monitoring at 2433 and 2435 Jenks Ave. and is required to submit a five year status review to FDEP.

“Human health, public safety and the environment are adequately protected,” FDEP stated in a letter.

The property at 2433 is now owned by George Bass, who uses the building for storage for Panhandle Paint. Contamination at that location dates back to the late 1980s before ABB purchased the property. RAH Electric and Emerson Electric used solvents to wash electric motors in the facility. A faulty PVC pipe led to trichloroethylene leaking into the soil and into surrounding ground water. ABB also used the site to clean electric motors but FDEP external affairs officer Brandy Smith said ABB utilized an aboveground handling system.

Darryl Fagen, who works at neighboring Ferguson Plumbing Supplies, said he knew of the contamination but added it did not affect the business because they are on the city water system.

“The grass loves it,” Fagen said referring to some overgrowth in the area behind 2433 Jenks Ave.

Public Works Director Neil Fravel said the city was not concerned about the contaminated area using the same reasoning. He does not believe there are any wells in the area that could be affected.

Darren Haiman, the property manager for Southwood, the office complex south and west of 2433 Jenks, said he believes the contamination is completely contained.

“Relative to values, we’re not concerned about a negative impact,” Haiman said.