Monsanto Corp. (Augusta Plant)

Overview

The Monsanto Corp. Augusta Plant is a 75-acre phosphate manufacturing facility in Richmond County, Augusta, Georgia, operating since 1962. The EPA added the site to the Superfund National Priorities List in 1984 after arsenic-contaminated groundwater was discovered spreading from two on-site landfills used to dispose of arsenic trisulfide manufacturing waste. The site was deleted from the list after cleanup was completed, with the deletion finalized on March 9, 1998.

Arsenic is the only contaminant of concern, found in groundwater in Operable Unit 1. Starting in 1993, a groundwater extraction system pulled contaminated water and sent it for treatment at a publicly owned treatment works. That system was shut down in 2011. By 2015, the companies responsible, Solutia and Prayon, submitted data showing that remaining elevated arsenic levels in groundwater come from high-pH water from an adjacent facility dissolving naturally occurring arsenic from soils. Georgia terminated its Consent Order with both companies in 2016 based on that finding. An environmental covenant now restricts use of shallow groundwater at the site.

Prayon Inc. purchased the facility from Monsanto in 1999 and continues phosphoric acid manufacturing there today. As of December 2024, the on-site business employed 80 people and generated about $58.3 million in annual sales. The site is fenced and secured. Zoning restrictions prevent residential use. The EPA's fifth Five-Year Review in 2020 confirmed that no current exposure pathways to the contaminated aquifer exist, because residents and businesses nearby use the public water system for drinking water. The plant's own groundwater well draws from deeper, uncontaminated sources. A sixth Five-Year Review is underway for 2025, with the most recent review completed on August 27, 2025.

Community members can stay informed through EPA outreach efforts, which include public notices, public meetings, and interviews to gather input. Site documents are available at the Augusta-Richmond County Public Library at 902 Green Street, Augusta, Georgia 30901. Questions can be directed to the EPA contacts assigned to the site.