BioLab fire exposed chemical risks. Now some federal safety rules could be rolled back – WSB-TV

BioLab fire exposed chemical risks. Now some federal safety rules could be rolled back  WSB-TV

New EPA proposals aim to roll back safety requirements for chemical facilities, raising concerns for local residents. ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. — Two years after the 2024 BioLab fire, proposed changes from the Environmental Protection Agency could make it harder for people to learn about potential accidents at chemical facilities near their homes. Channel 2’s Michael Doudna investigated the proposed rule changes and what they could mean for hundreds of thousands of Georgians who live or work near large chemical facilities. Across the road from BioLab in Rockdale County, signs of the fire remain at a worksite owned by Chris Lovejoy, where chemical-laced smoke forced him and his team to abandon the property. “You’ve got color changes going on,” Lovejoy said, pointing to discoloration on the building’s siding.

Video shows smoke settling on his property and fading the paint where it made contact. What Lovejoy can’t see is what impact that exposure may have had on him and his employees. “I guess we’re just guinea pigs and they’ll see what happens,” Lovejoy said. Lovejoy said some of his employees have already sought treatment and undergone surgeries for health problems they believe are connected to the smoke. “You just keep doing it,” Lovejoy said. “Go to the doctor and let him keep taking chest x-rays, knowing that one of these times you’re