Community Engagement - Congaree River
Click HERE for the latest updates on cleanup efforts, ., Congaree River Community Engagement Q and A image SCDES takes its role of protecting public health and the environment very seriously. We welcome the opportunity to have meaningful dialogue with all of our stakeholders as we continue our efforts with this complex project that affects a unique and beloved natural resource of our state. We encourage interested persons to stay involved by…, March 30, 2022 - Virtual Public Meeting Presentation, March 30, 2022 - Virtual Public Meeting Recording , On November 17, 2020, DHEC held a virtual community meeting to discuss the cleanup of tar-like material. At this meeting, DHEC provided additional details of the Modified Removal Approach, which is the preferred cleanup method, and outlined the next steps for the project. DHEC staff, the Congaree Riverkeeper, and representatives from Dominion Energy also answered questions from meeting attendees…, November 17, 2020 – Virtual Public Meeting Presentation, November 17, 2020 – Virtual Public Meeting Recording, November 17, 2020 - Community Flyer, On April 2, 2019, DHEC held a public meeting to discuss the Conceptual Plan for the Modified Removal Approach. This plan was developed through the cooperative work of SCE&G (now Dominion Energy), DHEC, and community stakeholders. The Conceptual Plan for the Modified Removal Approach and other resources are available below., Conceptual Plan for the Modified Removal Approach (PDF), April 2, 2019 - Public meeting presentation, April 2, 2019 - Public meeting handout, Congaree River Community Engagement citizens image On March 21, 2013, DHEC held a public meeting to discuss the Full Scale Removal of the TLM and Impacted Sediments. On February 13, 2017, DHEC held a meeting and presented information on the status of the Congaree River project and the evaluation of an alternate removal approach. February 13, 2017 -, DHEC Presentation at Community Meeting, February 13, 2017 -, DHEC Hand-Out at Community Meeting, Future updates and additional information will be provided on this webpage as it becomes available. You can also, sign-up, to be on our mailing list.Potential Risk to Health - Congaree River Sediment
Click HERE for the latest updates on cleanup efforts, ., Congaree Notice on Shore image, While much of the tar-like material (TLM) is contained under the sediment along the Congaree River between the Gervais Street Bridge and the Blossom Street Bridge, there is still potential to come in contact with the TLM when wading or swimming along the eastern bank. If skin comes in contact with the TLM it is possible to have some skin irritation. Remove any TLM with soap or hand cleaner if…Preferred Cleanup Alternative - Congaree River
Click HERE for the latest updates on cleanup efforts, ., On February 4, 2019, DHEC approved SCE&G (now Dominion Energy) to move forward with the permitting process for a Modified Removal Action (MRA) to address tar-like material (TLM) in the Congaree River. This MRA was derived from meetings between SCE&G, DHEC, and primary stakeholders to target areas for removal where TLM is at its thickest and has the greatest potential for human exposure.…Site History - Congaree River
Click HERE for the latest updates on cleanup efforts, ., In June 2010, DHEC responded to a report of tar-like material (TLM) in the sediments of the Congaree River. The affected area begins directly south of the Gervais Street Bridge, extending approximately 200-300 feet into the river from the eastern shoreline, and approximately 2,000 feet south downriver towards the Blossom Street Bridge. At that time, DHEC began an investigation that included…, VCC, to determine the extent of TLM in the Congaree River and to develop a plan for cleanup. Cleaning up the TLM in the Congaree River is difficult because of several unique complexities which limit the options and techniques available. First, this portion of the river is underlain by granite bedrock with only a few feet of sandy sediment which eliminates the ability to place a piling wall as a…, July 2015, , SCE&G submitted a Work Plan proposing to try an alternate removal approach of building a temporary dam using large sandbags to allow for excavation in the river. DHEC and the USACOE agreed to allow SCE&G to conduct a pilot test to see if this alternative could work. SCE&G began the pilot test on September 29, 2015. However, on October 4, 2015, historic flooding washed out the…, July 12, 2016, , SCE&G submitted a Field Demonstration Project Documentation Report on the pilot test to DHEC. The report concluded that the sandbag approach would not work. SCE&G requested that DHEC reconsider allowing capping of the area due to current river conditions and the negative effects of the proposed cofferdam. On, August 16, 2016, , after careful evaluation of all the previously considered alternatives, DHEC sent a letter requesting SCE&G to evaluate if Alternative 3 -Sediment Capping and Institutional Controls would meet the USACOE permitting requirements. The purpose of this was to determine if the USACOE permit requirements could be met for the capping alternative, as they could not be met for a full-scale…Updates - Congaree River
*October 13, 2023, photo of completion of cofferdam removal on Congaree River image On October 5, DHEC visited the Area 2 Cofferdam to visually inspect that tar-like material and sediment has been removed to the extent practicable. After the final site inspection, DHEC sent a letter to Dominion Energy stating that the removal efforts were complete and that the Area 2 Cofferdam could begin process of deconstruction…Community Engagement - CSXT Bramlett Road
On June 6, 2024, DHEC (now SCDES) held a public meeting to present DHEC’s Preferred Cleanup Plan to address contamination at the CSXT Bramlett Road Site, Greenville, South Carolina. The meeting was held at Mountain View Baptist Church at 111 Cagle Street in Greenville, SC and was also broadcast for those who wished to attend virtually. June 6, 2024 - Public Meeting Recording June 6, 2024 - Public…Enviva - Community Engagement
Public Hearing, DHEC held a Public Meeting to discuss the draft air synthetic minor construction permit on August 20, 2020 at 6:30 pm. A recording of the public meeting and information provided at the meeting can be found below. Recording of public hearing held on August 20, 2020 Public hearing presentation Public hearing transcript During the public hearing, DHEC staff provided a brief summary of the draft…, Contact, To report possible excess emissions or wood debris found on your personal property, contact the DHEC Regional Office in Greenwood at (864) 227-5915 . DHEC follows up on every complaint by visiting the facility and investigating possible causes for excess emissions. For information about community engagement, contact Monica Taylor at Monica.Taylor@des.sc.gov or (803) 898-7678 . For technical…Greenpointe Class 2 Landfill - Community Engagement
Update - October 25, 2023, DHEC has received a permit application for an increase in the annual tonnage rate of waste accepted at the Greenpointe Class 2 Landfill., If approved, this proposal would allow the landfill to accept more waste in a given year, but would not increase the existing footprint or final volume of waste the landfill is currently permitted to accept., As required by South Carolina's solid waste regulations, the landfill operator published a public notice of the proposed increase to their annual disposal rate in the Anderson Independent Mail newspaper on August 31, 2023. DHEC placed a draft permit for the, proposed increase to the annual disposal rate, on public notice on October 25, 2023 and began accepting comments for a 30-day period. The public notice was published in the Anderson Independent Mail newspaper., Please, click here, to submit comments or to request a public hearing., All comments and requests for a public hearing are required to be submitted by November 24, 2023. For questions or additional information, please contact DHEC's project manager for the site, Tim Eleazer, at (803) 898-1374 , or by email at E-mail Timothy.Eleazer@des.sc.gov Timothy.Eleazer@des.sc.gov ., Community Engagement, Community Engagement is an important component of our permitting process that allows us to hear from affected communities and look for ways we can address their concerns through the permitting process using the authorities provided in environmental statutes and regulations. The input that we receive from community members often results in changes to a permit and always results in a better final…, Public Meeting – February 18, 2021, DHEC held a virtual public meeting on February 18, 2021 to discuss the proposed landfill expansion in an informal setting., DHEC staff presented information about the proposed expansion and the permitting process, as well as answered questions from attendees. The DHEC presentation and recording of the meeting are available below:, , Greenpointe Class 2 Landfill Public Meeting Presentation - February 18, 2021 Greenpointe Class 2 Landfill Public Meeting Recording - February 18, 2021, Additional Information, January 2021 H2S Assessment for Greenpoint Class 2 Landfill Landfill Gases (PDF) Hydrogen Sulfide (PDF), What to Expect After the Public Comment Period , The period to submit comments on the proposed expansion closed on March 5, 2021, . DHEC will review all comments received during the public comment period and determine if any modifications should be made to the permit application or draft permit. DHEC’s final decision to either approve, modify, or deny a permit for the proposed expansion will be made available to everyone on DHEC’s mailing list and posted on this webpage. Any additional information or updates about the…, How to Notify DHEC of an Environmental Concern , DHEC is responsible for investigating environmental complaints, including odor complaints, when they occur. Unusual or abnormal odors could be an indication of a change in operating practices or equipment malfunction and should be reported to DHEC. All complaints are prioritized and investigated based on the health and safety of citizens. , DHEC is actively involved in investigating odor issues from local residents concerning the Greenpointe Landfill., As part of the investigation process, these concerns are being addressed with the landfill operator., Anyone wishing to file a complaint with DHEC concerning the Greenpointe Landfill should submit an email to, E-mail greenpointelf@dhec.sc.gov, GreenpointeLF@dhec.sc.gov, with as much detailed and specific information as possible, including: , date and time the issue was observed, and if it is actively occurring, address where the issue was observed, photos depicting the issue, if available, a detailed description of the issue, and your contact info if you would like follow-up after the incident has been investigated. It is important to note that any personal information submitted to DHEC in a complaint may be subject to public…, Greg Smith, Anderson County Solid Waste Director (864) 260-1001 E-mail gdsmith@andersoncountysc.org gdsmith@andersoncountysc.org Anderson County Noise Ordinance , Alesia Hunter , Anderson County Planning and Zoning Director (864) 260-4774 E-mail ahunter@andersoncountysc.org ahunter@andersoncountysc.org Road Conditions , Matt Hogan , Anderson County Roads and Bridges Manager (864) 260-4190 E-mail wmhogan@andersoncountysc.org wmhogan@andersoncountysc.org Number of Trucks on Roads, Kevin McLaughlin, SC Department of Transportation, District 2 Administrator (864) 227-6971 https://www.scdot.org/inside/countyOffices.aspx Truck Weight/Unsafe Conditions, SC State Transport Police, (803) 896-5500 Truck Speed, SC Highway Patrol, (864) 260-2200Greenpointe Class 2 Landfill - Landfill Overview
Update - October 25, 2023, DHEC has received a permit application for an increase in the annual tonnage rate of waste accepted at the Greenpointe Class 2 Landfill., If approved, this proposal would allow the landfill to accept more waste in a given year, but would not increase the existing footprint or final volume of waste the landfill is currently permitted to accept., As required by South Carolina's solid waste regulations, the landfill operator published a public notice of the proposed increase to their annual disposal rate in the Anderson Independent Mail newspaper on August 31, 2023. DHEC placed a draft permit for the, proposed increase to the annual disposal rate, on public notice on October 25, 2023 and began accepting comments for a 30-day period. The public notice was published in the Anderson Independent Mail newspaper., Please, click here, to submit comments or to request a public hearing., All comments and requests for a public hearing are required to be submitted by November 24, 2023. For questions or additional information, please contact DHEC's project manager for the site, Tim Eleazer, at (803) 898-1374 , or by email at E-mail Timothy.Eleazer@des.sc.gov Timothy.Eleazer@des.sc.gov ., Solid Waste Operations, A Class 2 Landfill is generally referred to as a construction and demolition debris landfill as the following items are allowed to be disposed in it: asphalt, concrete, lumber, cardboard, shingles, glass, land-clearing debris, etc. Class 2 Landfills are not required to have a liner system., Landfill Determination Process, Phase 1, Phase 1 of the permitting process is referred to as the landfill determinations process. Through the landfill determinations process, DHEC approves the location of the landfill and its maximum allowable footprint. DHEC determines whether the application is consistent with the Demonstration of Need Regulation (R.61-107.17), the County and State Solid Waste Management Plans, and applicable buffers…, Phase 2, Phase 2 is the technical review of the project. In Phase 2, the applicant submits a technical application that details how they plan to meet the location, operational, and design requirements found in the landfill regulation (R.61-107.19, Part IV). The main design requirements for a Class 2 Landfill are that the landfill maintain at least 2 feet of separation to groundwater after settlement of…Haile Gold Mine - Air Quality Permit
Haile Gold Mine (HGM) is currently permitted under Title V air operating permit 1460-0070 to operate a gold mine in compliance with state and federal air quality regulations. Operations include open pit mining of gold containing ore and an ore processing plant, where physical and chemical separation techniques are used to extract gold and silver. In June 2019, DHEC’s BLWM received an…, BAQ Permitting Documents , Title V Permit Title V Permit Statement of Basis Air Construction Permit 1460-0070-CC Air Construction Permit Statement of Basis for 1460-0070-CC Air Construction Permit 1460-0070-CD Air Construction Permit Statement of Basis for 1460-0070-CD Construction Permit 1460-0070-CD Response to Comments, BAQ Timeline of Events, September 7, 2012, - Received construction permit application for gold mine and processing plant , October 4, 2013, - Issued Construction Permit 1460-0070-CA for gold mine and processing plant , March 9, 2015, - Granted construction permit CA extension for 18 months , May 18, 2015, - Start of construction , May 31, 2016, - Issued construction permit exemption 1460-0070.01x for relocation of primary crusher PT-1, conveyors PT-2 and PT-3, and the addition new conveyors PT-2A and PT-3A , October 4, 2017, - Start of Operation/ 40 CFR 63 Subpart EEEEEEE Compliance Date , April 8, 2019, - Received complete Title V Application , April 12, 2019, - Issued Notice of Alleged Violation/Notice of Enforcement Conference for 40 CFR 63 Subpart EEEEEEE, reporting, and testing violations , October 29, 2019, - Received construction permit application for mercury abatement system , January 2, 2020, - Issued Construction Permit 1460-0070-CB for mercury abatement system , November 3, 2020, - Received operating permit request for construction permit 1460-0070-CB , December 8, 2020, – Executed Consent Order requiring HGM to comply with all reporting requirements, emissions limitations, and other permitting and regulatory requirements; the Consent Order also required HGM to pay a civil penalty for previous permit violations. , March 2, 2021, - Draft Title V Permit on Public Notice/EPA Review , March 31, 2021, – End of public comment period, June 1, 2021, – Title V Air Operating Permit Issued, August 26, 2021, - Received construction permit application for Concrete Batch Plant, December 3, 2021, - Received updates to the construction permit application for Concrete Batch to include the Portable Crusher, April 29, 2022, - Issued Construction Permit 1460-0070-CC for a Concrete Batch and a Portable Crusher, August 29, 2022, - BAQ received an air construction permit application to increase ore throughput related to the mining expansion., November 17, 2022, – Draft Construction Permit 1460-0070-CD on Public Notice, December 28, 2022, –, Department Decision was issued for Construction Permit 1460-0070-CD which established, a federally enforceable limit to avoid Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) of less than 250.0 tons per year of Particulate Matter (PM).