A flash flood on Campbell Branch, a tributary of the Mayo River, caused further discoloration of the water earlier this month, according to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.
The latest incident occurred more than a month after DEQ issued a request for corrective action to Faith Mulch following a July 18 spill of blue-green hydroseeding mulch into Campbell Branch.
According to DEQ, the material is a nontoxic, blue-green-dyed hydroseeding mulch.
DEQ Senior Communications Coordinator Sarah Pentecost said the short-term corrective actions requested by the agency have been implemented.
“The longer-term actions were being implemented at the time of this latest incident when a flash flood on Campbell Branch caused water to rise into the production area of the plant (Faith Mulch). DEQ continues to engage with the facility and partner agencies to ensure actions are taken to achieve compliance,” she said.
Pentecost said the latest incident has been incorporated into the compliance and enforcement action involving Faith Mulch.
“In addition to DEQ’s requirement to hire an environmental contractor to perform immediate cleanup on Aug. 8, Faith Mulch will have additional short- and long-term corrective actions to implement as a result of a Notice of Violation issued to the company,” Pentecost said.
Despite the dramatic change in water color in Campbell Branch and the Mayo River, Pentecost said DEQ has not observed or received reports of aquatic mortalities, and none are expected.
DEQ also has not conducted water testing and does not plan to do so, Pentecost said.
“Other than temporary discoloration, no lasting impacts have been observed or are expected in Campbell Branch or the South Mayo River,” she said.
