Columbus Aludyne Foundry diesel spill prompts EPD investigation, stop-work order and fines. August 12, 2026 1:00 PM Primary content. A rainbow sheen of diesel is pictured July 13, 2026, on the surface of Roaring Branch Creek in Columbus, polluting the water. Credit: Chattahoochee Riverkeeper In mid-July, while automotive metal casting company Aludyne Foundry LLC was closing its shop and demolishing its business in Columbus, it spilled a notable amount of diesel fuel into Roaring Branch Creek. The creek runs behind the Cracker Barrel and Starbucks on Bradley Park Drive and north of Belfast Avenue, near the North Columbus Industrial Park. That discovery - not by a city official but by a volunteer with the watchdog group Chattahoochee Riverkeeper - prompted the Columbus Consolidated Government to issue a stop-work order to Aludyne's demolition, demand the company pay fines and undergo investigations by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division for violating the Clean Water Act. "This is why programs like this are so critical," CRK technical programs coordinator Ashley Desensi told the Ledger-Enquirer. Desensi is referring to the network of volunteers within the CRK who take water samples from creeks and rivers throughout the Chattahoochee River basin, testing for E. coli or other harmful bacteria that can harm wildlife and people. When a volunteer who has checked Roaring Branch Creek weekly during the past year conducted their test July 13, they noticed an oily diesel smell and a rainbow sheen on the water, Desensi said. Immediately, Desensi verified in person by following the smell and sheen to find a stormwater discharge about 300 feet upstream from an outfall sending diesel into the water. The following day, she alerted EPD and CCG as part of CRK's emergency response protocol. During the Georgia EPD site visit July 14, they contained the spill by using tools like oily socks or sorbent socks at the top of the discharge area, according to Desensi. CCG, Desensi, and Georgia EPD haven't disclosed how much diesel was spilled, but Desensi said, "It was on the smaller side." That number could be revealed when the EPD closes its investigation complaint, according to Georgia EPD communications director Sara Lips. The spill release stopped as of the site visit July 14, Lips said in an email. The EPD visited July 15-17 and July 21 with remediation efforts continuing during that time. The Chattahoochee Riverkeeper on July 13, 2026, takes a water sample out of a diesel spill coming from the Aludyne Foundry in Columbus. Credit: Chattahoochee Riverkeeper With larger spills, Desensi said, fish kills can happen, and other wildlife can get into the water and soil. The diesel contains potentially different chemicals that can make you sick, she said. "For the most part, no one is recreating in this creek, but it leads into Lake Oliver where Columbus gets its drinking water, where Columbus Water Works treats this for us" Desensi said. On Aug 4, the day after city manager Tyson Begly issued a stop-work order to Aludyne for not having a demolition permit, Judge Susan Henderson fined Aludyne $1,500 for 'illicit discharge', according to CCG engineering director Vance Beck. A history of bad acting. Aludyne came to Columbus in 2013, according to its website, but formed the Aludyne Columbus LLC in 2009, per the Georgia Secretary of State's Office. The company has nine locations across the world, with a U.S. presence in Michigan. In 2023, the company was cited for 22 Occupational Safety and Health Administratio violations with $182,344 in penalties that resulted in a hospital visit from employees reporting skin burns and eye damage. The case closed in 2024 with a settled penalty of $25,813, according to the OSHA inspection. From October 2024 to February 2025, Aludyne was not in compliance with the Clean Air Act and not in compliance with the Clean Water Act for 12 quarters (three years) as of February 2025, according to U.S. EPA records. Aludyne did not respond to the Ledger-Enquirer's request for comment about whether these fines and citations had anything to do with closing the Columbus foundry. Nor did the company answer requests for comment about when the Aludyne officially stopped operating and decided to demolish the site. However, Lips said their NPDES permit has been inactive as of "January or February since production stopped." Aludyne still have an active business license and received an air permit as recently as May 27. More details will be made available after the case is closed and not under investigation, the EPD said. This story comes to GPB through a reporting partnership with Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. Climate Reporter Kala Hunter covers climate change and environmental news in Columbus and throughout the state of Georgia for the Ledger-Inquirer. The Enquirer, which later merged with The Ledger, was founded in 1828, the same year the city of Columbus was incorporated. As the city has grown into the vibrant place to live and work that it is today, so has the media company that started out with it. Providing 24/7 news coverage across mobile, desktop and printed products, the Ledger-Enquirer is committed to being the Chattahoochee Valley's and East Alabama's primary source of news. Bottom content. Support quality journalism. GPB is committed to bringing you comprehensive news coverage from Georgia, across the country and around the world. Your support makes this possible. Please consider making a gift today to support this vital public service.

Aludyne (Georgia) WARN Act investigation. Strauss Borrelli PLLC, a leading class action law firm, is investigating Aludyne Inc ("Aludyne") regarding its recent potential mass layoff in Columbus, Georgia. The WARN Act is a federal law that requires certain employers to notify their employees, in writing, at least 60 days before a plant closing or mass layoff takes effect. As a result, we believe Aludyne employees may be entitled to 60 days of severance pay and benefits. What happened? On February 5, 2026, Aludyne notified the Georgia Office of Workforce Development of its decision to conduct a mass layoff at its facility in Columbus, Georgia. The federal law, known as the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, requires covered employers to provide 60 days' prior written notice to employees, their representatives, and certain government parties in the event of a mass layoff or plant closing. We are investigating whether Aludyne failed to provide at least 60 days' notice before laying off 341 employees and, therefore, violated the WARN Act. About The WARN Act: The WARN Act is a federal law passed in 1988 by Congress that requires employers with 100 or more employees to provide a 60-day notice of significant layoffs or plant closings. This notice gives workers and their families time to prepare for job loss, seek new employment, and pursue training or retraining opportunities. The WARN Act aims to reduce the impact of sudden job loss on workers and communities by ensuring they have sufficient time to transition. Generally, employees must receive a WARN Act notice if they are laid off or if their hours are cut by 50% or more in any six-month period because of a plant closing or mass layoff. It is possible that a temporary layoff may still violate the WARN Act if it ends up lasting longer than six months. Employers who do not follow the WARN Act rules, either by giving notice too late or providing unclear notices, may have to pay employees back pay and benefits for the time they were in violation. If you or someone you know were laid off from Aludyne Inc ("Aludyne") in Columbus, Georgia, we would like to speak with you about your rights and potential legal remedies. Please fill out the form below or contact us at 872.263.1100 or [email protected] About Aludyne: Aludyne, headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, is a North American manufacturer of lightweight metal components, focused primarily on aluminum castings and related machining for the automotive and transportation sectors. If you or someone you know were laid off from Aludyne Inc ("Aludyne") in Columbus, Georgia: We would like to speak with you about your rights and potential legal remedies. Please fill out the form below or contact us at 872.263.1100 or [email protected]. Contact Us Learn about your legal rights The WARN Act is a federal law passed in 1988 by Congress that requires employers with 100 or more employees to provide a 60-day notice of significant layoffs or plant closings. This notice gives workers and their families time to prepare for job loss, seek new employment, and pursue training or retraining opportunities. The WARN Act aims to reduce the impact of sudden job loss on workers and communities by ensuring they have sufficient time to transition. Generally, employees must receive a WARN Act notice if they are laid off or if their hours are cut by 50% or more in any six-month period because of a plant closing or mass layoff. It is possible that a temporary layoff may still violate the WARN Act if it ends up lasting longer than six months. Employers who do not follow the WARN Act rules, either by giving notice too late or providing unclear notices, may have to pay employees back pay and benefits for the time they were in violation. February 11, 2026 Featured blog posts. October 23, 2024 October 21, 2024 October 11, 2024 March 11, 2024 December 1, 2024 October 25, 2024 October 23, 2024 October 21, 2024 October 11, 2024 March 11, 2024 December 1, 2024 October 25, 2024 October 23, 2024 October 21, 2024 October 11, 2024 March 11, 2024