A defunct pesticide plant in North Memphis may be turned into an environmental trust, potentially leaving taxpayers responsible for cleanup costs if the state accepts a $3 million settlement from Velsicol.
Ashli Blow reports for Tennessee Lookout.
In short:
- Velsicol's proposal to transfer its contaminated 83-acre Memphis site to an environmental trust follows allegations of financial mismanagement and fraud during bankruptcy proceedings.
- The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) estimates cleanup costs between $137 and $143 million, but Velsicol offers just $3 million.
- The community, long impacted by pollution, fears the trust will shift the financial burden of cleanup onto taxpayers.
Key quote:
“It’s pesticides that have been banned and they’re in the soil and they’re toxic. It’s as simple as that.”
— Scott Schoefernacker, science director of Protect Our Aquifer.
Why this matters:
The contamination left by Velsicol poses health risks to nearby communities and threatens the Memphis Sands Aquifer, a critical drinking water source. Without sufficient funding or oversight, cleanup efforts may remain incomplete, perpetuating environmental injustice.
