BRUNSWICK, Ga. – The Pinova chemical plant in Brunswick that went up in flames earlier this year will be decommissioned one year from now.
The plant officially shut down in June, months after a massive fire in April that burned for hours.
Pinova outlined its decommissioning plans at a Glynn County commission meeting Tuesday night, saying the effort will take time.
Pinova said the overall goal is to redevelop the property so it can be of some value to people who live in Glynn County.
The fire started around 7 a.m. and was contained around 10 a.m., then it reignited around 3 p.m. that afternoon.
The massive fire caused voluntary evacuation orders for some residents who were within a 1/2 mile radius of the plant -- and a shelter-in-place order for the entire town that day.
The response was massive and included 13 different fire and emergency management agencies, three law enforcement agencies to help with traffic and logistical support, and Georgia Forestry, which air-dropped fire suppressant over the site.
A definitive cause was never determined.
The facility produced wood resin, which is used in adhesives and is highly flammable.
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Pinova’s senior director of operations, Ron Kurtz, said the fire and aftermath was a tough blow to that area’s economy.
“We are creating a financial void in the area. You have to realize we have had a lot of salaries going in here. We have had a lot of contractors and all of that,” Kurtz said.
The decommissioning process began in September with the building where the fire started. Last month, the company received 12 bids from contractors bidding on the decommissioning work. Pinova will award a bid in January.
Once that happens, Pinova will begin decommissioning the rest of the 300-acre site.
Brunswick Mayor Cosby Johnson explained his vision for the site’s future.
“But now, I think what we’re left with is, really an interesting opportunity for which I’ve said to our community, to generationally change our city for the next 100 years,” Johnson said.
He wants to ensure everyone is provided a seat at the table while taking into consideration the nearby neighborhoods. Johnson said it’s important to have meaningful conversations about the environmental impact, and he feels confident that county leaders, plant owners and community input, the future will be brighter for the City of Brunswick.
“Whether the number is between $30 or $60 million of economic impact, whatever the community decides to bring to that footprint, I believe, strongly will outgross the economic impact of what was there before,” Johnson said. “So I believe what will happen on that footprint will be more environmentally sound will be safer for the communities that are adjacent, and will really take in the vision of of the people who live next door.”
All of the buildings will be removed by August, and decommissioning will be done by December.
Kurtz said the priority is helping the county bounce back from this.
“If I had to put an estimated yearly volume of money that never left the 30-mile radius here, it would be somewhere around $60 million. So now you have this void. This void has to be filled. We have to look out for everyone in this county,” Kurtz said.
There is not a definitive plan of what that property is going to be used for in the future but officials hope it will generate a lot of jobs or opportunities for people.