Residents of Rockdale County are finally breathing easier after the shelter-in-place order, triggered by a chemical release at BioLab’s Conyers facility, was lifted on October 17. For the first time in weeks, the community can confidently return to their daily lives as air quality tests confirm that the fumes have stopped, and emergency operations at the site are finished.
What You Need to Know:
• Air quality safe: The EPA reported 72 hours of safe air quality levels with no exceedances recorded.
• Shelter-in-place lifted: Rockdale County ended the order after confirming no dangerous fumes were being released.
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• BioLab emergency response operations stopped: The company’s emergency response concluded, but ongoing cleanup will continue under state supervision.
What Happened?: The shelter-in-place order went into effect after chemicals at BioLab’s plant were released, sparking public health concerns across the county. For weeks, residents were told to stay indoors due to potentially harmful air. Now, thanks to efforts led by the Unified Command and first responders, air monitoring has shown no more danger, allowing people to get back to normal.
Is It Safe Now?: Yes, according to the EPA, there have been no air quality issues for the last three days, meaning residents can feel safe going outside without worrying about exposure to dangerous fumes. The Unified Command, which coordinated the emergency response, has disbanded, signaling that the immediate crisis has passed. Rockdale County confirmed the end of the shelter-in-place order as of October 17.
What’s Next?: While the emergency phase is over, BioLab is now shifting to cleaning up the mess left behind. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division will oversee this part, ensuring safe disposal of chemical waste and the removal of debris from both the plant and nearby areas, including homes that were impacted.
What BioLab is Doing:
• 24/7 call center: Residents can call (678) 301-2359 for help with claims and reimbursement requests.
• In-person assistance: A Community Assistance Center is open, and so far, it’s helped about 300 residents with issues.
• Debris removal: BioLab is clearing debris from both public roads and private properties. Over 100 cleanup requests have already been completed.
What Should You Do?: If you’ve been affected by the incident, BioLab is offering help. You can visit their website at BioLabCommunityResources.com or call their hotline at (678) 301-2359 for immediate assistance with claims or to get more information on the ongoing cleanup efforts.
