This story was updated on Thursday, Oct. 3 at 6:38 p.m.
Lawmakers, Conyers residents and environmental groups rallied at the Georgia State Capitol Thursday to call for the shutdown of the BioLab chemical plant that caught fire on Sept. 29.
They said that the business’ track record of breaking environmental regulations, including the most recent fire, should make the state of Georgia reconsider permitting BioLab.
“State leaders love to boast about how Georgia is number one as a place to do business in this country. But what does that mean when businesses of the day are poisoning the very people who live here?” said Devin Barrington-Ward, managing director of the Black Futurist Group.
He was echoed by Gwen Smith, founder and executive director of the local organization Community Health Aligning Revitalization Resilience & Sustainability.
Smith read out a lengthy list of BioLab’s previous audits and failures to meet clean air, water and solid waste regulations. She cited several times over the years in which BioLab was cited for failure to comply with the Clean Air Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Air and the Clean Water Act.
“This is why they do not deserve an opportunity to operate in our state, not only here in Rockdale,” Smith said. “They don’t deserve an opportunity to ever do business in our state until they can show elsewhere — because they have other facility issues — that they can be a good corporate citizen.”
Georgia Environmental Protection Division spokesperson Sara Lips wrote in a statement that BioLab holds three permits with the division. “EPD staff is currently on site and assisting with air quality monitoring. Once the emergency situation at the facility is contained, EPD will determine if any of the 3 permits have been violated,” Lips said.
BioLab’s parent company, KIK Consumer Products, did not respond to requests for comment.
“So in other terms, KIK — kick rocks,” Barrington said.
Georgia State Sen. Tonya Anderson said the group is looking into ways to strengthen Georgia against companies that repeatedly endanger community health, such as passing bad actor legislation.
The group also said that BioLab’s repeated failures to meet water and air quality standards is directly hurting the health of nearby neighbors after years of incidents.
“The public health, safety and well being of these communities has to be prioritized,” said Daniel Blackman, former southeastern regional administrator for the EPA.
He said while the plume and fire have affected many parts of Atlanta, it’s hit hardest in marginalized communities, especially where Black and Brown communities have higher rates of respiratory illness.
“I’m calling, especially with those of us who stand here in solidarity, for more bad actor legislation to be passed and not only remove BioLab from Conyers, but to make sure that we no longer slap these companies that make billions of dollars off of taxpayers on the wrist,” Blackman said.
He said that these penalties should also accompany criminal charges.
“Since you’re not going to be good stewards of the environment, take your hat, your coat and leave,” said Anderson.
The Party for Socialism and Liberation announced it will hold a protest Oct. 6 at the Capitol to call for the shutdown of the BioLab facility.
