T.H. Agriculture & Nutrition Co. (Montgomery Plant)

Overview

The T.H. Agriculture and Nutrition Co. Montgomery Plant is a 16.4-acre former pesticide, herbicide, and industrial chemical facility on Montgomery's west side. The EPA added it to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1990 after operations contaminated groundwater, soil, surface water, and sediment. The site is currently vacant, physical cleanup is complete, and contamination does not threaten people living or working nearby.

More than 150 chemicals have been identified as contaminants of concern. These include volatile organic compounds such as benzene, trichloroethene, and carbon tetrachloride, metals including arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and mercury, pesticides and breakdown products like DDT and dieldrin, and industrial chemicals such as phthalates and chlorinated compounds. Contamination was found across all environmental media, with most groundwater contamination addressed under the first cleanup area and soil, surface water, and sediment contamination addressed through an ecological assessment.

Cleanup happened in stages. A groundwater extraction system ran from 1997 to 2002, sending contaminated water to the city's treatment facility. From 2002 to 2004, workers excavated about 2,850 cubic yards of contaminated soil and sediment and treated them with biological additives that used living organisms to break down contaminants. All on-site buildings were demolished in 2010. Institutional controls placed in 2014 restrict groundwater use and limit land use to commercial purposes only. Elf Atochem funds all cleanup, monitoring, and oversight activities under a legal agreement with the EPA.

Human exposure to contamination is currently under control. Groundwater migration is stabilized and is not spreading beyond the original contamination area. The site achieved "Sitewide Ready for Anticipated Use" status in February 2015, meaning cleanup goals for current and reasonably anticipated future land uses have been met. The fifth Five-Year Review, completed in August 2022, found that soil and groundwater remedies are expected to provide long-term protection of human health and the environment. A partial deletion from the NPL was achieved in September 2021. The sixth Five-Year Review is scheduled for 2027, and annual groundwater monitoring continues.

Community members can stay involved through EPA outreach efforts that include public notices, public meetings, and interviews about cleanup activities. Site records are available for public review at the Rufus Lewis Regional Library at 3095 Mobile Highway in Montgomery. Residents can also contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager directly using the information below.