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Sale won't affect King America's obligations
Textile plant's parent company Westex Inc. sold to South Carolina-based Milliken & Company
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The recently announced sale of its parent company will not affect a Screven County textile company’s compliance with permit and testing mandates.
The sale also will not affect a consent agreement the company has with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division to help protect the Ogeechee River from pollution.
Milliken & Company, which is based in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and owns industries in several countries, announced Friday that it acquired Westex Inc., the Chicago-based company that owned King America Finishing, a textiles plant in Dover specializing in flame-retardant material.
In 2011, King America came under fire after a massive fish kill that left about 38,000 dead fish downstream of the plant, located along the Ogeechee River.
While tests revealed the fish died from columnaris, a bacteria, many speculated the environmental conditions causing the bacterial infection stemmed from pollutants in the river coming from the plant.
Numerous property owners and citizens who claimed to have suffered adverse health problems after being in the river filed lawsuits, most of which have been settled, said King America attorney Christy Hull Eikhoff, of Alston and Bird, which is headquartered in Atlanta.
“Only a handful of cases remain” open, she said. “King America was able to make peace with most” of the people filing suits. The change of ownership will not affect the ongoing suits.
Ogeechee Riverkeeper Emily Markesteyn said she expects King America Finishing will continue to work with her organization and EPD officials in efforts to comply with permit mandates, testing and compliance with a consent order that requires the company to fund ways to improve the river environment.
“We’re assured all settlement and permit terms will stay in place,” she said Tuesday. “We feel confident everything will stay on track.”
EPD issued the consent order against King America in September 2011 after finding the plant was in violation of permits regarding wastewater discharge.
Also, the Ogeechee Riverkeeper sued King America under the federal Clean Water Act, resulting in a stricter pollution permit, more public access to discharge data and a $2.5 million payment from King America to the riverkeeper to help continue efforts to protect the river.
Since then, Markesteyn and river advocates have been satisfied with efforts to clean up the discharge and maintain proper testing method, she said.
The move will not affect the company’s obligations to EPD or the Ogeechee Riverkeeper, according to a statement issued by Milliken spokesman Richard Dillard, adding that he is confident in the company’s ability to remain in compliance with the new permit.
“We look forward to welcoming the Westex team to Milliken & Company,” said Jeff Price, the president of Milliken’s specialty fabrics division. “As we look to the future, we are committed to changing the experience for industrial workers with (flame retardant) innovations that further improve comfort and productivity.”
Milliken, established in 1865, owns companies that produce specialty chemicals, floor coverings, and performance materials.
Westex, established in 1919, manufactures flame-resistant fabrics used in the utilities, electrical maintenance, oil and gas, and metals industries.
King America Finishing employs about 50 people.

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