(GEORGIA NEWS NETWORK)
*The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced the passing of Commissioner Joe D. Tanner on its social media accounts. Tanner served as commissioner from 1972 to 1984 and then again from 1990 to 1995. During his tenure, he consolidated state agencies into the DNR, created the Safe Dams Act, and established a single-point environmental permitting system. Tanner was the first and longest serving commissioner of the department.
*There’s been an update on the investigation into the BioLab fire in Conyers that resulted in a large toxic plume of smoke to be emitted into the air. The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board says a BioLab employee reported hearing a popping sound during their 5 a.m. shift. The report says the employee alerted another employee on-site, and they attempted to isolate the product affected as it appeared wet. They say there were no flames, but they did see a large toxic vapor plume inside the building at that time. A fire later erupted that caused evacuations, shelter-in-place warnings, and road closures for weeks.