The Department of Natural Resources Department of Environmental Protection ordered Norfolk Southern to remove soybeans from Flat Creek and faced the threat of fines of up to $50,000 a day.
       In a letter sent on Wednesday, August 17, EPD noted that the soybeans that accumulated in Flat Creek and lowered the oxygen level in the water came from a train derailment in South Norfolk on July 29.
       Three Norfolk Southern trains serving the Cargill plant derailed, at least one of them carrying soybeans.
       A spokesman for Norfolk Southern reiterated that the company’s efforts were made “on our own terms” before any regulatory authorities issued a subpoena.
        “(Norfolk Southern) and our contractors responded immediately and worked to contain and clean up the spill. There were no impacts on Flat Creek at the time,” Norfolk Southern said in a statement. “On Friday, August 12, we were informed of the discovery of soy material at Flat Creek, about one mile from the crash site. We have dedicated environmentalists and contractors who are experienced in dealing with this type of incident and will respond immediately to “This work has been ongoing since Friday and we are continuing to work with our government partners to determine the source of the material and remove it from the stream. It is important to note that soy is not hazardous, although it will degrade over time, as will other organic materials.” .
       In a previous statement to The Times, Norfolk Southern said the company and its contractors “quickly cleaned up the spill after last month’s crash and determined the spill was contained within Norfolk Southern’s property.”
       According to a Notice of Violation letter sent Wednesday, EPA officials saw three derailed hoppers at the head of Flat Creek on Aug. 16.
       According to the EPD letter, “soybeans were found in a derailed hopper car, under a hopper car, and soybeans in various stages of decomposition were found near a derailed hopper car on Flat Creek.”
       However, the water downstream was murky and grey, and soybeans were found in the water and along the shore, the letter said.

Seed Cleaner & Grader, Seed Cleaning Machine, Gravity Separator, Destoner, Seed Treater, Seed Processing Line, Bagging Scale System, Bean Polishing Machine, Indented Cycliner, Elevators

       Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper expert Becca Risser said at least 40 dead fish were recorded last week and more this week.
        Risser said she is still getting dissolved oxygen readings in water below the standard 5 milligrams per liter. In the worst places, readings were still below 1 milligram per litre.
       The treatment method involves pumping out the soybeans and water, then sending the water back into the stream through a filter, Risser said.
       The EPD directed Norfolk Southern to “continue to remove soybeans and aerate Flat Creek until all recoverable soybeans have been removed and dissolved oxygen is above 5 (mg/L) for 7 consecutive days.”
       ”Please be aware that these violations can result in fines of up to $50,000 per day, and each violation may follow,” the letter said.