Peach Tree Times

State legislators and Congressman Hank Johnson recently held a follow-up meeting to address concerns stemming from the BioLab chemical fire. The virtual meeting on October 10, 2024, included key figures such as State Representatives Rhonda Taylor, Billy Mitchell, Karla Drenner, State Senator Tonya Anderson, and Congressman Hank Johnson. This meeting followed a public hearing at the State Capitol on October 8.

Participants in the follow-up meeting included Rockdale County Board of Commissioners Chairman Oz Nesbitt, local leadership staff, representatives from BioLab, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Georgia's Environmental Protection Division, and members of Rockdale and DeKalb County Legislative Delegations.

Representative Rhonda Taylor emphasized the gravity of the situation: “It is very obvious to me that this is a much bigger problem than any of us, including BioLab, realize.” She noted that recovery might take years or even decades. Senator Tonya Anderson stated their commitment to supporting communities during this challenging time: “Our goal is to facilitate a coordinated response that prioritizes public safety and environmental health.”

Representative Billy Mitchell expressed gratitude for the discussion led by Congressman Johnson: “As was discussed, this catastrophe is not only affecting Rockdale County but perhaps many of the neighboring communities as well.” He stressed the importance of devising policies to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Congressman Hank Johnson shared insights from his briefing with local and state officials about BioLab’s actions: “Their safety and well-being are our primary concern.”

During the public hearing earlier in the week, citizens voiced concerns about communication gaps and conflicting information regarding the incident. BioLab’s community liaison Dexter Porter apologized for these issues and assured attendees that efforts were underway to resolve them.

In response to ongoing risks from the incident, a shelter-in-place order was issued by Rockdale County leadership. Chairman Oz Nesbitt addressed questions about county preparedness for potential future incidents at BioLab.

BioLab executives promised continued support for affected residents based on an honor system without stringent requirements. They provided resources for reporting issues related to dead animals or debris resulting from the fire.

For further assistance or inquiries related to this incident or its aftermaths—such as filing claims or requesting debris pickup—contact details have been made available by various authorities involved in managing this crisis.