Updates Regarding BioLab’s Conyers Facility

Latest Updates From BioLab

BioLab’s Dedicated 24/7 Call Center for Local Rockdale County Residents and Businesses to Open Today

Conyers, GA – As part of its ongoing efforts to expand support services for the local community affected by the fire at its Conyers facility, BioLab will today open its dedicated round-the-clock call center for the Rockdale County community at 10:00 a.m. Eastern.

Starting today, local residents and businesses can call (678) 301-2359 to speak with a live representative, 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.

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We continue to work diligently as part of the Unified Command response team, bolstered by the support of the technical specialists we have deployed, to address the situation at our site, and we have continued to make progress since our last update.

Today, the Rockdale County Emergency Management Agency lifted the shelter-in-place except for the two-mile radius around our facility, reducing the number of those affected by the shelter-in-place. This recommendation is based on air monitoring data over the last five consecutive days.

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BioLab has launched BiolabCommunityResources.com as a dedicated online resource for members of the Conyers community. The website includes updates about remediation efforts and the support we are making available, including taking steps to open an in-person Community Assistance Center, providing debris removal services, and supporting organizations that are assisting local residents. The site also includes information to address common questions and key contacts for the community. Please check the website for the latest updates on BioLab’s continued efforts to support our community in Conyers.

Since Sunday, BioLab’s senior team has been onsite working diligently as part of the Unified Command response team of first responders under the leadership of the Rockdale Fire Department to address a fire at a warehouse at our Conyers facility. We are incredibly grateful to all of the first responders and thankful that no injuries have been reported at the site.

This has been a complex process that has required careful planning and execution, under the oversight of the Unified Command, to ensure the health and safety of the communities surrounding our Conyers facility.

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We remain fully focused on remediating the situation at our Conyers facility, and we are incredibly grateful for the efforts of the Unified Command and first responders. Since our last update, working as part of the Unified Command, we have continued to make progress in mitigating the situation at our facility, and we deeply regret the impact of the incident on our community. Our executive leadership team is on the ground and engaging directly with local representatives and stakeholders on how we can best provide support; we will make further updates in this regard.

Our top priority remains ensuring the community’s safety. We are grateful to the partnership with first responders and local and federal authorities as we together work non-stop to remediate the ongoing situation at our Conyers, Georgia facility. We have made significant progress throughout the day, assisted by the deployment of out-of-state specialist support, and note Rockdale County’s announcement tonight ending the shelter in place advisory effective immediately. Air emissions are being actively monitored at the site and in the community by state, local, and federal authorities and we are supporting the efforts of local authorities as part of the Unified Command response to the incident.

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Additional External Updates

October 16, 2024

Unified Command Releases Photos of BioLab Facility Remediation Efforts

ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. – The Unified Command has released a series of photos capturing images from site cleanup efforts following the chemical release at the BioLab facility; these images document the transition from the initial response to the progress achieved over the past two weeks.

“This progress reflects the hard work and coordination of the Unified Command, cleanup crews, and partner agencies,” said Deputy Chief Jimmy Robinson from Rockdale County Fire Rescue. “We are proud of the efforts of everyone involved not only to act swiftly but to do so with the safety of the community and our responders in mind.”

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October 12, 2024

News Release from Unified Command – Continued Improvements in Air Quality Following BioLab Incident

CONYERS, Ga. – Significant progress has been identified in air quality monitoring efforts at and around the BioLab facility. Ongoing air quality assessments over the past two weeks show a steady reduction in chlorine levels, reflecting the success of mitigation and cleanup operations.

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October 7, 2024

Rockdale County Lifts Shelter in Place Except for the 2-Mile Radius Around Biolab

ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. – Rockdale County Emergency Management Agency lifts shelter in place except for the two-mile radius around Biolab.

This recommendation is based on data over the last five consecutive days. Readings have not indicated exceedances of chemicals in the air that would require sheltering in place for areas outside of the two-mile radius. This two-mile radius includes a half-mile buffer zone.

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October 3, 2024

Rockdale County Deputy Fire Chief Robinson provides an update from the scene at BioLab

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October 8, 2024 8:30 AM

BioLab’s Dedicated 24/7 Call Center for Local Rockdale County Residents and Businesses to Open Today

Conyers, GA – As part of its ongoing efforts to expand support services for the local community affected by the fire at its Conyers facility, BioLab will today open its dedicated round-the-clock call center for the Rockdale County community at 10:00 a.m. Eastern.

October 7, 2024 4:00 PM

We continue to work diligently as part of the Unified Command response team, bolstered by the support of the technical specialists we have deployed, to address the situation at our site, and we have continued to make progress since our last update.

Today, the Rockdale County Emergency Management Agency lifted the shelter-in-place except for the two-mile radius around our facility, reducing the number of those affected by the shelter-in-place. This recommendation is based on air monitoring data over the last five consecutive days.

Just as we remain fully focused on our efforts onsite, we also continue to take steps to expand the support services we are offering the local community:

  • We are preparing to launch in short order a call center that will assist with answering general questions, as well as evaluating and processing reimbursement requests from local Conyers residents and businesses. We expect to be able to provide more details on the call center by Tuesday, October 8.
  • Understanding that there are concerns among local residents about debris from the fire where wind has carried materials offsite, we have been actively working since the onset of the situation to remove debris from public areas and roads. In addition, we have activated a debris removal service for community members who wish to have fire debris cleared from their private property. Requests can be submitted to [email protected].
  • We have appointed a local Community Liaison who will serve as a key point of contact for direct engagement within the community and will have access to resources with the full support of BioLab.
  • We are working swiftly to open our in-person local Community Assistance Center, which will provide a central location for local residents and business owners to access information and resources coordinated by BioLab.
  • We have partnered with local organizations to provide food to children who are remote learning this week.

Updates and resources will continue to be made available on our dedicated website: www.BiolabCommunityResources.com.

October 4, 2024 9:00 AM

Since Sunday, BioLab’s senior team has been onsite working diligently as part of the Unified Command response team of first responders under the leadership of the Rockdale Fire Department to address a fire at a warehouse at our Conyers facility. We are incredibly grateful to all of the first responders and thankful that no injuries have been reported at the site.

This has been a complex process that has required careful planning and execution, under the oversight of the Unified Command, to ensure the health and safety of the communities surrounding our Conyers facility.

The first priority was to extinguish the fire at the warehouse, which stored raw chemicals and components. The fire and the water used to extinguish it resulted in smoke emanating from the facility. Additionally, when the chemicals stored in our facility come into contact with water, they slowly release chlorine – as they are intended to do when sanitizing a swimming pool. This release, and the water that was needed to control it, have contributed to the ongoing visible haze over our facility.

Right now, our focus is neutralizing the wet chemical product to mitigate the continued reaction. We have deployed two specialist hazmat crews from Mississippi and Louisiana to support the remediation efforts, engaged two water management companies, and have also engaged technical chemical experts. Air emissions are being actively monitored at the site and in the community by state, local and federal authorities. We are also working to remove any debris carried off-site by the wind, and activated a team tasked with collecting debris.

In the meantime, we recognize that members of our community have had questions and concerns. We are partnering closely with government agencies, and residents can also find updates on their websites below:

Importantly, BioLab has a number of initiatives underway to support the community, of which we are a part:

  • We are standing up a local Community Assistance Center, which will provide a central in-person location for individuals to walk in and receive information about accessing available services.
  • Our donations to local organizations thus far include Rockdale Emergency Fund and United Way of Greater Atlanta to support them in their efforts to assist local residents.
  • We are working to identify ways to support local businesses here in Conyers over the course of this situation.

We are engaged with residents, government officials, and other community stakeholders to identify other ways to assist the community to ensure that local residents and businesses have the support they need. Our community’s input is incredibly important to us, and we are committed to using every resource necessary to making this right.