A Georgia county is preparing a federal lawsuit to close the BioLab chemical factory after a fire last month released a toxic cloud over suburban Atlanta, leading to extensive evacuations.
According to AP News, Rockdale County Commissioners announced their intent to take legal action, aiming to address what officials describe as ongoing safety concerns at the facility.
County officials, joined by affected residents and business owners, have expressed frustration following repeated hazardous incidents linked to BioLab, which manufactures pool chemicals.
The county’s legal team is set to move forward with a lawsuit once a contract with a legal firm is approved.
Local authorities are seeking remediation and compensation from BioLab and its parent company, KIK Consumer Products, to cover damages and support community recovery efforts.
Rockdale County Commissioner Sherri Washington emphasized the toll BioLab’s operations have taken on residents, pointing to health issues reported since the fire.
At a recent press conference, she expressed the community’s growing impatience with the company’s presence in the area, stating: “We want them gone.”
She added: “For three weeks, I have listened to the numerous physical, mental, and emotional tolls that this company’s negligence has caused our residents. And I will fight until my last breath to have them removed.”
The county’s planned lawsuit joins over a dozen others already filed by residents and local businesses since the fire.
Washington and other commissioners aim to hold BioLab accountable for alleged negligence and misconduct.
While legal representatives intend to seek corporate accountability, they are open to settlements if the terms bring prompt and fair solutions for the community’s ongoing concerns.
BioLab’s factory, which has operated in Rockdale County since 1973, has faced multiple hazardous incidents over the years, with serious fires in 2020, 2016, and 2004 that led to evacuations and shelter-in-place orders.
Despite its position as one of the county’s largest employers, contributing nearly 3% to the local tax base, the facility’s history of chemical releases has heightened public concerns about safety.
Last month’s fire was especially disruptive, affecting thousands in Conyers, located about 25 miles southeast of Atlanta.
In response to the incident, approximately 17,000 Rockdale County residents were evacuated, and an additional 90,000 were advised to shelter in place.
The chemical release resulted in school and business closures and restrictions on outdoor activities, further straining local resources and highlighting the recurring safety issues.
In response to the fire and the county’s announcement of its intent to file a lawsuit, BioLab has stated its commitment to assisting affected community members.
The company recently opened a Community Assistance Center, designed to support residents and business owners in filing claims related to damages.
BioLab reports that the center has helped around 300 community members so far, while a 24/7 call center has received over 7,500 calls to provide further assistance with reimbursements and claims.
Representing Rockdale County, attorney Shayna Sacks from New York’s Napoli Shkolnik law firm said the county is open to discussions if they result in “swift and just resolutions” for affected community members.
Sacks emphasized the broader goal of the lawsuit, stating: “Our goal is not only to address the immediate issue, but also to set a precedent that enhances corporate responsibility and accountability as it relates to our environment and community.”
Rockdale County, Georgia, plans to file a federal lawsuit against BioLab following a chemical fire that released a toxic cloud, affecting thousands in Atlanta’s suburbs.
County officials, citing repeated hazardous incidents over recent years, seek to shut down the plant to ensure public safety.
The county’s decision comes amid resident and business lawsuits filed for health impacts and property damages since the fire.
BioLab, a major county employer, has offered community support through an assistance center and call line.
While Rockdale officials remain open to settlement discussions, they intend to establish corporate accountability and secure remediation for affected areas.
