Bryan County, GA (February 4, 2026) – On February 2, 2026, KaLeigh Long, the Chief Executive Officer of Westwin Elements, Inc., stated at a public townhall meeting that the property located at 1 Caesarstone Drive, Richmond Hill, Georgia 31324 (the “Property”) had “significant silica contamination,” “elevated levels of arsenic,” and that there were “hazardous waste barrels” strewn across the Property. These allegations are extremely serious and warrant immediate investigation and, if true, enforcement action.
On February 3, 2026, the Bryan County Board of Commissioners and the City of Richmond Hill’s Mayor and Council voted unanimously to authorize a joint investigation into alleged environmental contamination located at the Property, and enforcement procedures under applicable state law and local ordinances. The Property is located within the municipal limits of the City of Richmond Hill.
The County and City will immediately commence their joint investigation. During the investigation, the County and City will take all appropriate steps to discover the truth about the conditions of the Property. If it is true that the Property has significant environmental contamination, the County and City will jointly pursue remediation efforts, ensure any public nuisance caused by any environmental contamination is appropriately abated, and will hold the responsible parties accountable.
Please understand that this process takes time and the evidence will guide the investigation and future action. Concurrently with the investigation, the City of Richmond Hill will evaluate whether any conditions exist that impact its zoning ordinances, permitting, land use, and comprehensive planning. That process too will take some time, and the facts and evidence will guide the investigation and any future action. The County and City are committed to transparency during this process. The County and City will jointly update the public when information is available.
The County and City view the preservation and protection of the public health, safety, and welfare as the upmost importance.