Manufactured Gas Plant Site Restoration
From the 1830s to the 1950s, before natural gas was widely available, gas was manufactured from coal and other fuels for use primarily as lighting and heating in many communities.
The manufactured gas plants (MGPs) were marvels of technology, even by today's standards, but their operations left byproducts and residues at the sites, located in Athens, Augusta, Brunswick, Griffin, Macon, Rome, Savannah, Valdosta and Waycross.
Atlanta Gas Light worked with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) and with the local communities to investigate the sites and to design and implement cleanup programs. Today, soil at all nine sites has been remediated and restored to productive use, stimulating more than $200 million in economic revitalization.
Our aggressive MGP cleanup program is a reflection of our commitment to the health and safety of the communities we serve. The remediated MGP sites present no significant threat to human health or the environment. Atlanta Gas Light will continue to work with EPD to monitor, test, and cleanup groundwater according to each site's state-approved program and cleanup objectives.
Augusta Manufactured Gas Plant Site Restoration
In June 2018, Atlanta Gas Light began the last phase of environmental cleanup of Augusta’s former manufactured gas plant (MGP) that had operated from 1852 to 1954. Like other MGPs around the country that operated in the same era, the plant processed coal to produce gas used for street lamps, industries and homes. Production also left behind tar residues in the ground around the plant that require cleanup under modern standards.
We thank you for your continued patience with this effort. As we progress through the project, our approved construction plans require a modification to the traffic pattern and this is anticipated to be implemented in mid-January. The attached map shows the updated traffic pattern, which will involve closing the intersection of Walton Way and Eighth Street until remediation and restoration of Walton Way is complete prior to April 2019).
Now that cleanup is well underway, people in the immediate area may occasionally notice an odor similar to road building materials, such as asphalt. The organic odor comes from the coal tar residues, but it does not present a health hazard. The site is being monitored for noise, odors, and other measures throughout the construction project. Once restoration is complete and environmental approvals from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division are obtained, the property will be available for redevelopment.
As with all our work, safety is our top priority. Great care will be taken in all phases of the project. We don’t expect natural gas and other utility services to be disrupted during this process. AGL will provide ongoing updates on our website page below throughout construction. Again, thank you for your patience and understanding as we make these improvements to the community.
As with all our work, safety is our top priority. Great care will be taken in all phases of the project. Natural gas and other utility services are not expected to be disrupted during this process. Atlanta Gas Light will provide ongoing updates on this page throughout construction. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we make these improvements to the community.
Have questions that are not answered here?
Email us at AugustaMGPsite@southernco.com
Or call us 706-993-9828.
