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River Bend Aggregates, LLC has applied for environmental permits from the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) to mine granite at a site located on Hammett Grove Road in Spartanburg County, approximately 2.7 miles northwest and within the town limits of Pacolet, SC. The Pacolet River Heritage Preserve is located southwest of the proposed mine permit area and the Pacolet River. A proposed reclamation plan to restore the site to grassland and a lake/pond has been submitted with the application.  

After careful consideration of all comments and applicable information, SCDES approved and issued environmental permits for the River Bend Quarry on July 11, 2024. Additional information and documents related to the issuance of the mine permit, air construction permit, and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permit coverage is available below.  

This webpage has been developed by the SCDES as a community resource and although no longer updated, will remain active for those who wish to learn more about SCDES’s permitting process for the River Bend Quarry. Please bring this webpage to the attention of others you know who may be interested. 

Mining

SCDES’s Bureau of Land and Waste Management (BLWM) received an application for a mine operating permit for the proposed River Bend Quarry on October 13, 2023. The BLWM provided notice of the application in the Spartanburg Herald-Journal newspaper and began accepting comments on December 7, 2023. Additionally, the public notice was mailed to adjacent landowners, local and state government/regulatory agencies, and other interested parties.  

The mine permit application, reclamation plan, maps, and other related documents are available below. 

SCDES's Final Mine Operating Permit Decision

After careful review and consideration of all comments and information received from concerned citizens and local, state, and federal agencies, along with supplemental information provided by the applicant, SCDES determined that the River Bend Quarry can comply with the South Carolina Mining Act and applicable mining regulations. Having made this determination and being in receipt of the required financial assurance for reclamation, SCDES approved the mine application and issued Mine Operating Permit I-002410 for the River Bend Quarry on July 11, 2024. The final mine permit, maps, reclamation plan, and groundwater monitoring plan are available in the approved permit package below.  

Questions about the River Bend Quarry and the BLWM’s mine permitting process may be directed to:

Jeremy Eddy, P.G. 
Phone: (803) 898-7609
Email: Jeremy.Eddy@des.sc.gov 

Air Quality

An air quality construction permit is required for any entity that plans to construct, alter, or add to a source of air pollution, including the installation of any air pollution control device. The permit must be issued before any construction-related activities occur at the site. If issued, the permit allows for the installation, modification, and start of operation of equipment.  

On November 2, 2023, River Bend Aggregates, LLC applied to SCDES’s Bureau of Air Quality (BAQ) for an air quality construction permit for the proposed aggregate mine and processing plant near Pacolet, SC.

BAQ has completed a technical review of the application. The technical review included reviewing emission calculations, performing a regulatory review, conducting an ambient air quality analysis, and verifying that the proposed project can meet all applicable air quality regulations if constructed and operated as proposed in the air permit application. Once the technical review was completed, a draft air construction permit containing all applicable emission limitations and requirements was placed on public notice on December 7, 2023. BAQ accepted comments on the draft air construction permit through January 26, 2024.

The public notice, along with the draft construction permit (containing all applicable emission limitations and requirements), draft statement of basis, and permit application are available below.  

SCDES's Final Air Construction Permit Decision

On July 11, 2024, the BAQ issued a Department Decision to approve an air quality permit to construct and operate a granite quarry and processing plant for the River Bend. This decision was made after consideration and complete review of the permit application, applicable state and federal air quality regulations, comments made at the public hearing held on January 11, 2024, all comments received within the required time frame, the public hearing transcript, and all other pertinent information. All comments received were reviewed for technical merit and have been included in SCDES’s permanent record.

SCDES’s final air construction permit decision documents are available below:

Questions about the draft air permit and the BAQ’s permitting process may be directed to:

Mareesa Singleton
Phone: (803) 898-4113
Email: Mareesa.Singleton@des.sc.gov

Water Quality

SCDES’s Bureau of Water (BOW) issues National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits to minimize environmental impacts from stormwater runoff and other water discharges that may occur during construction and operation of a facility.

Coverage under NPDES General Permit SCG73000 “Discharges Associated with Nonmetal Mineral Mining Facilities” is required for the proposed River Bend Quarry in conjunction with a mine operating permit. This general permit coverage addresses surface water quality issues for both stormwater and wastewater discharged from the site. It also requires the installation of Best Management Practices for sediment and erosion control, as well as reporting and inspection requirements.

On March 21, 2024, the BOW received a Notice of Intent from River Bend Aggregates, LLC requesting coverage under existing NPDES General Permit SCG73000 for the proposed River Bend Quarry. Documents related to the BOW’s NPDES permitting process for the River Bend Quarry are available below:

Questions about the NPDES general permit coverage and the BOW’s permitting process may be directed to:

Brett Caswell 
Phone: (803) 898-4396 
Email: Brett.Caswell@des.sc.gov

Public Meeting and Public Hearing

SCDES (then DHEC) held a combined public meeting and public hearing on the proposed River Bend Quarry on January 11, 2024, at the Bejamin E. Mays Family Center in Pacolet, SC. The public meeting was held from 6:00 – 7:00 PM, with the public hearing held immediately thereafter.  

The public meeting was informal and provided an opportunity for participants to have a discussion with SCDES staff about the proposed quarry and environmental permitting process prior to giving comments at the public hearing. The meeting included SCDES presentations about the mine permit application and draft air permit. Staff from SCDES’s Bureau of Land and Waste Management, Bureau of Air Quality, Bureau of Water, and Bureau of Environment Health Services were at the meeting to address questions and concerns.  

Filing a Request for Final Review

S.C. Code Ann. § 48-20-190 provides, “An applicant for a certificate of exploration or operating permit or a person who is aggrieved and is directly affected by the permit may appeal to the [mining] council from a decision or determination of the department issuing, refusing, modifying, suspending, revoking, or terminating a certificate of exploration or operation permit or reclamation plan, or imposing a term or condition on the certificate, permit, or reclamation plan… The person taking the appeal within thirty days after the department's decision shall give written notice to the [mining] council through its secretary that he desires to appeal and file a copy of the notice with the department at the same time.” 

Impact of Public Comments in SCDES’s Permitting Process 

SCDES values all comments made during the public comment period. Local community members provide a unique perspective and are valuable resources in addressing community concerns in the permitting process.  Becoming better informed is an important first step in providing effective public comments that may influence specific terms and conditions that must be followed by the owner/operator if a permit is issued.

Effective comments are those that provide accurate, specific details about the site of a proposed project, inaccuracies in the permit application, errors in SCDES’s technical review or draft permit, and any other information demonstrating that a proposed project cannot operate in compliance with environmental regulations.   

It is important to know that SCDES cannot make a permit decision based on a vote or how many comments are received. There are also some common issues/comments related to mining operations that SCDES does not have the regulatory or legal authority to consider when making a permit decision, for example:   

  • Truck traffic, access to public roads, weight limits, and traffic patterns are governed by the South Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT) and the local county. 
  • Industrial development and operating hours are governed by the local county through zoning and land use planning. 

Beginning a conversation early about these and other quality of life issues is an effective way for communities to work together with local government officials, their legislative delegation, mining representatives, and other interested parties to find solutions and reach common goals. 

Stay Connected - Community Engagement and Resources

SCDES is committed to providing meaningful opportunities to hear the questions and concerns of community members and share information on our permitting processes. SCDES offers multiple ways to connect with our staff during the permitting process and beyond, including:

  • Calling or connecting with SCDES staff to discuss the proposed River Bend Quarry one-on-one.
  • Submitting a written comment or question.
  • Receiving additional information by email or mail.
  • Stay informed about local planning and zoning decisions affecting your community.

Additionally, we hope the following information will provide a better understanding of how you can be involved in SCDES’s decision-making process:

SCDES encourages residents to ask questions and share information with us. Staying engaged in our process helps us to learn more about your community. 

Questions about community engagement in SCDES’s permitting process may be directed to:

Donna Moye
Phone: (803) 898-1382
Email: Donna.Moye@des.sc.gov