Pesticide Spill-Union County

[Wingman]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-April 14, 2005

CONTACT: Robbie Wilbur
601/961-5277 robbie_wilbur@deq.state.ms.us



MDEQ ADVISES PUBLIC ABOUT PESTICIDE SPILL IN UNION COUNTY


(JACKSON, Miss.) -- The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality’s (MDEQ) Emergency Services Division advised the public Thursday regarding the spillage of the pesticide Chlorpyrifos into the Okannatie Creek in Union County. The wreck of a U.S. Express truck Wednesday on Highway 78 between mile markers 70 and 71 resulted in the spill. The Okannatie Creek is a tributary of the Little Tallahatchie River.
“We are working on-site with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Express to clean up the pesticide. In addition, DEQ staff is currently taking water samples and will implement a long-term monitoring plan to ensure the quality of the water.

“There have been some fish kills in the creek, and we anticipate there may be more. We advise the public to not wade, swim, or fish in this area until all of the chemical has been removed,” said Eric Dear, Director of the Emergency Services Division.


Approximately 40,000 pounds of Chlorpyrifos was spilled and 35,000 pounds has already been removed by a contractor hired by U.S. Express. The chemical was released from 50 pound sacks after the truck wrecked.


MDEQ staff are working with U.S. Express on a long term monitoring plan and will ensure that the quality of the water returns to normal.

[GulfCoast]

O.K., I am from Union County, and I have no idea where that is, other than off 78....

[Soybean Man]

Just to let you know, this is an insecticide labeled in many fruit and row crops and is toxic to fish, birds, small mammals, and aquatic invertibrates. Stay away from that area for a while and don't eat the fish. Used on stink bugs, grasshoppers, aphids, root worm, corn borer,spidermites, bean leaf beetle, caterpillars, cutworms, midge, chinch bug, armyworm, lygus, wireworms, mealy bugs and many more. This is some bad stuff. Application rate is 1/2 pint to 7 pints per acre in the liquid form. It was probably being shipped somehwhere to be formulated for different crops. I don't see how it is going to return to nomal anytime soon. Keep us updated.

[mudsucker]

Well, at least there will be no bugs around there!

[Labs & Ducks]

I believe the wreck occurred just West of the Blue Springs (Hwy 9 North) exit on Hwy 78. I noticed on the news, USES (United State Environmental Services) was there. I'm assuming they were doing the clean-up. They are a first class Emergency Response company from all I've seen about them. Still a very unfortunate incident.

[CLS Posse]

Sounds like it was in the granular form and it is used as an insecticide for peanuts and corn in the furrow at planting. It's common trade name is Lorsban 15g.