Westinghouse
Overview, Westinghouse owns and operates the Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility located on 1,156 acres off Bluff Road in Hopkins, Lower Richland County, South Carolina. The facility has been in operation since 1969 and manufactures nuclear fuel assemblies used in power plants to generate electricity throughout the United States., The Westinghouse Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility in Hopkins is not a nuclear power plant and does not generate electricity. , Westinghouse Aerial View The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) have oversight of operations at the Westinghouse site. DHEC and NRC regulations have been written to protect public health and the environment and promote safe practices at the facility. , There have been no known off-site impacts from operations or environmental contamination at the Westinghouse site. , , This webpage has been developed by SCDES as a community resource and will be updated as new information about the Westinghouse site is made available. , Stakeholders , Westinghouse, - Westinghouse owns and operates the Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility located in Hopkins, South Carolina. , Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) , - Radiologic operations at Westinghouse are regulated by NRC through an NRC license. NRC’s oversight of these operations includes routine facility inspections. , South Carolina Department of Environmental Services SCDES) , - SCDES issues air and water permits to regulate non-radiologic air emissions and water discharges from the facility. SCDES also has the authority to require Westinghouse to investigate and cleanup any radiologic or non-radiologic releases to the environment (i.e. groundwater, surface water, soils and sediments) - both within the property boundaries and beyond. , Lower Richland County Communities -, Residents in the communities of the Hopkins-Lower Richland area are collaboratively working with SCDES, elected officials, and other local organizations to strengthen communication and ensure accountability and transparency of environmental investigations at the Westinghouse site.Able Contracting Fire
, On January 6, 2020, DHEC completed the removal of material from the Able site to prevent reignition and recurrence of smoke. As lead agency, DHEC oversaw the removal of material from the site in collaboration with local, county and state partners., DHEC’s number one priority, while the site was cleaned up, was the protection of public health and the environment. The Able Contracting, Inc. (Able) facility in Jasper County had been operating as a Recovered Material Processing Facility (RMPF). Prior to changes to the SC Solid Waste Policy & Management Act in May of 2018, facilities such as Able did not require a permit to operate. In June…, “DHEC has determined that the recent elevated levels of smoke from a fire at the Able Contracting facility located on Schinger Avenue in Ridgeland constitute an emergency requiring immediate action to protect public health,” said Myra Reece, DHEC’s Environmental Affairs Director. “DHEC issued an Emergency Order due to continued elevated air quality monitoring results along with the company’s…, DHEC asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assist with air and water sampling to help characterize emissions. While awaiting results from EPA monitoring, DHEC mobilized an emergency response contractor to begin efforts to extinguish the fire. , Summary of Initial Lab Data, DHEC requested assistance from the US EPA to collect air and water samples from around the fire at Able Contracting, LLC in Jasper County. Under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as Superfund, if a hazardous substance, as defined in the Act, is present and there is risk of exposure of the public, federal resources can be brought…, Air Data, DHEC positioned particulate air sensors that are size-selective (2.5 micron diameter and smaller) for the size of particles found in smoke. EPA collected air samples which were analyzed ford for 76 volatile compounds, 90 semi-volatile compounds, 22 metals, formaldehyde, and asbestos in the smoke. The air sample results showed levels for one of those chemicals, acrolein , to be at a concentration…, Acrolein is not known to cause cancer in humans. , Water Data, EPA sample results can be found on EPA’s web page for Able Contracting Fire . Results from EPA’s water sampling conducted in the on-site well did not find elevated concentrations of the chemicals tested; however, ditch water samples as well as a sample from the nearby pond did find elevated concentrations of metals when compared with DHEC and EPA ecological guidance levels for surface water.…, Updates, Final Daily Update for Able Contracting Fire, This will serve as the final daily update on the Able Contracting Fire. On Monday, January 6, 2020, the last of the material was removed from the site. The total number of trucks was 12,084 and amount of material removed was 115,136 tons.* Able Contracting Fire Update The real time DHEC air quality sensors that have been reporting particulate matter (PM) during the fire and response will be…AVX Site Myrtle Beach
This webpage is no longer maintained. It may be useful as background information or to provide a historical perspective on a topic or project. , Overview, The AVX site is located at 801 17th Avenue South in the City of Myrtle Beach, SC, within an area of undeveloped, residential, and commercial properties. As early as 1953, the former Aerovox Corporation began operations at the site. New ly the site houses its subsidiary corporation, AVX Corporation. Since 1972, AVX has manufactured a variety of ceramic capacitors and electronic components at its…, History of Groundwater Contamination, In 1995, AVX notified the Department of the existence of soil and groundwater contamination beneath the AVX Myrtle Beach property. During the investigation of the extent of contamination, it was discovered in 2006 that groundwater contamination had migrated to other properties around the facility. An extensive investigation of the off-property ground contamination was conducted, and the extent…, The Proposed Plan for OU-1 has been completed and will be the subject discussed at the public meeting on April 15, 2021. DHEC will accept comments on the Proposed Plan for OU-1 through May 15, 2021. , Additional information on previous assessment and cleanup activities conducted at the AVX site for Operable Unit 2, can be found here ., Ongoing Groundwater Treatment, Contaminated groundwater is controlled from further movement off-property by two extraction wells. These wells pump groundwater to the surface where it is processed through a treatment system to remove the VOCs. The contaminated groundwater that has migrated off the facility property is being treated by a system that injects molasses into the ground. This process accelerates the breakdown of the…, Proposed Plan for Operable Unit 1 , DHEC’s Bureau of Land and Waste Management has completed an evaluation of cleanup alternatives and prepared a Proposed Plan to address onsite soil and groundwater contamination for Operable Unit 1 (OU-1) at the AVX site. Operable Unit 1 includes the footprint of the former AVX facility. The Proposed Plan identifies DHEC’s preferred alternative for cleaning up the contaminated area and provides…, Documents, Proposed Plan Focused Feasibility Study (FS) FS Investigation Report , Summary of Site Risks , The area adjacent to the site is zoned for industrial, commercial, and residential usage. The affected aquifer is considered a potential underground drinking water source. The primary exposure routes would be contact with onsite soils or contact/ingestion of affected groundwater containing contamination. The facility is fenced, therefore access is limited. Public water is available in this area…, Remedial Action Objectives , The remedial action objectives (RAOs) for the development and evaluation of alternatives for this site are: Eliminate site-related contaminants of concern (COCs) from soils that may be leaching into groundwater. Restore the groundwater aquifer by reducing COCs to below Federal Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for drinking water. Prevent ingestion and dermal contact with groundwater…, Summary Cleanup Alternatives Considered , Based on information collected during previous investigations, a Feasibility Study for Operable Unit 1 (Arcadis, 2019) was conducted to identify, develop, and evaluate options and remedial alternatives to address the contamination at the Site. This evaluation considered the nature and extent of contamination and associated potential human health risks developed during the remedial investigations…, DHEC’s Preferred Cleanup Alternative , DHEC’s preferred remedial alternative for OU-1 is Alternative 2 - consisting of enhanced reductive dechlorination (ERD) and excavation. ERD and excavation have both been used effectively at this site under OU-2 to reduce soil and groundwater contamination. The ERD remedy will consist of injection wells installed in transects across the source area saturated zone and the downgradient dissolved…, Summary of DHEC’s Preferred Cleanup , Alternative 2: Excavation and Enhanced Reductive Dechlorination DHEC’s preferred alternative includes: Excavation and off-site disposal of source area soils. Injection of a carbon substrate into the ground to stimulate the breakdown of contaminants in groundwater by a natural process. Groundwater monitoring. Deed notifications/restrictive covenants on the OU-1 Site property.Environmental Data, Maps, Reports
Carbon Monoxide Data and Maps Chem-Nuclear Site Monitoring GIS Applications and Data Permits and Regulatory Info Pollution Monitoring Recycling Data Savannah River Site Monitoring Watersheds in Your Area Where to Recycle: Map Report It!Estuary Management and Planning
Salt marshes provide numerous ecosystem functions including nursery habitat for fish and crabs, nutrient filtering and cycling, and high rates of primary productivity. Many commercially and recreationally important fish and shellfish species depend on marshes and estuaries for all or part of their life cycle, and many other forms of wildlife utilize wetlands as habitat and a source of food. In…, Research and Policy Development, Development of Living Shoreline Regulations, Mapping Coastal Erosion Hazards Along Sheltered Coastlines in South Carolina 1852 to 2006, (pdf), Shoreline Change Initiative, Restoration Activities, Living Shorelines, Abandoned Vessel Removal, Clean Marina Program, Resources, TNC Resilience Network, Adapting to Shoreline Change: A Foundation for Improved Management and Planning in South Carolina - Final Report of the Shoreline Change Advisory Committee, (pdf), Critical Line Buffer Ordinances: Guidance for Coastal Communities, (pdf), Backyard Buffers for the South Carolina Lowcountry, (pdf), Dredging and Spoil Disposal Needs Assessment, (pdf), Dredging and Disposal Alternatives and Techniques for South Carolina Coastal Marina, (pdf), South Carolina Shell Fish Management Plan, (pdf), Oysters Shell Recycling and Replacement in Murrells Inlet, (pdf), SC Coastal Information NetworkFederal Permit Request to Conduct Seismic Surveying in the Atlantic Ocean
South Carolina Seismic Surveying map graphic, UPDATE, On June 1, 2019, DHEC publicly noticed a request for a federal permit consistency review of proposed activities by WesternGeco, LLC (WesternGeco) to conduct two-dimensional seismic exploration activities in the federal waters of the Atlantic Ocean. In July 2019, DHEC determined that seismic activities proposed in a federal permit application by WesternGeco were not consistent with the applicable…, letter, dated July 8, 2019. WesternGeco filed a, Notice of Appeal, with the U.S. Department of Commerce on Sept. 20, 2019 requesting that the Secretary of Commerce override DHEC’s objection to the coastal zone consistency certification for the proposed activities. WesternGeco’s, Principal Brief, was filed on Oct. 21, 2019. DHEC filed its, response, with the Department of Commerce on December 3, 2019. DHEC has also requested supplemental coordination with three companies that submitted federal permit applications in 2015 for seismic activities off the South Carolina coast: CGG Services Inc, GX Technology Corporation, and Spectrum Geo Inc. Based on the new and additional information and studies evaluated during WesternGeco’s 2019 consistency…, CGG Services Inc, ,, GX Technology Corporation, , and, Spectrum Geo Inc, . to request additional information under the federal Coastal Zone Management Act’s supplemental consistency certification process to determine if the seismic activities proposed under the 2015 federal applications are consistent with the state’s enforceable policies. Additional information and resources regarding proposed seismic activities are linked below., Background, In Jan. 2015, the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced its intention of opening areas of the Atlantic Ocean within federal jurisdiction to oil and gas development leases. In anticipation of this announcement, several private companies submitted applications to BOEM in 2014 to conduct seismic surveys offshore of South Carolina in federal waters of the…, DHEC does not have the authority to issue or deny a permit application for seismic surveying activities outside of its three-mile ocean jurisdiction., However, DHEC is granted the authority to review federal permit applications for any activity that may have a foreseeable effect on state coastal resources. In 2014, DHEC made a request to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which is the entity that administers the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act, to review the federal permit applications for seismic surveying to…, DHEC was granted limited authority to review 5 of the federal permit applications for 2 specific elements: the potential impacts of the seismic surveying on sea turtles and on commercial and recreational fisheries., In 2015, DHEC conducted a consistency review of three federal permit applications for seismic activities proposed by CGG Services Inc (BOEM Federal Permit Number E14-005), GX Technology Corporation (BOEM Federal Permit Number E15-001), and Spectrum Geo Inc (BOEM Federal Permit Number E14-006). A 4th company, SeaBird Exploration (BOEM Federal Permit Number E14-002), withdrew their application from…, New and Additional Information and Studies, DHEC received the 5th federal permit application from WesternGeco, LLC (BOEM Federal Permit Number E14-004) on March 12, 2019 for a federal consistency review of proposed seismic activities in federal waters off the South Carolina coast. This federal permit application was subject to a consistency review by DHEC to determine whether the proposed activities were consistent with the applicable…, letter, dated July 8, 2019. As part of the federal consistency review, DHEC published a 30-day public comment period that closed July 1, 2019. Over 1,700 individual public comments were received during the comment period. DHEC evaluated these comments as part of its overall review in making its final determination. As of Dec. 1, 2019, the above referenced federal permit applications for seismic surveying…, Additional Information, SC Coastal Management Program Document, DHEC OCRM Unlisted Activities Request to NOAA (Aug 25, 2014), Supplemental Information to the Unlisted Activities Request (Oct 17, 2014), NOAA Response to the Unlisted Activities Request (Nov 18, 2014), Coastal Zone Consistency Determination for CGG Services (E14-005, CZC-15-0170), Coastal Zone Consistency Determination for GX Technology Corporation (E15-001, CZC-15-0144), Coastal Zone Consistency Determination for Spectrum Geo Inc (E14-006, CZC-15-0061), NOAA Fisheries Incidental Take Authorization: Oil and Gas Industry Geophysical Survey Activity in the Atlantic Ocean, NOAA Fisheries Biological Opinion for Incidental Take Authorization, BOEM: Atlantic G&G Permitting, Coastal Zone Consistency Determination for WesternGeco, LLC (E14-004, HNN-BMBP-FT3KS), WesternGeco Notice of Appeal, WesternGeco Principal Brief, WesternGeco Consolidated Record, SCDHEC Principal Brief, SCDHEC Consolidated Record, Updated: 12/23/2019Hurricane Ian Recovery and Requirements
Emergency Orders for Sandbags, Sand Scraping and Minor Renourishment, DHEC OCRM has issued blanket emergency orders to local governments in Georgetown and Horry Counties to allow property owners along the immediate beachfront to conduct minor renourishment, sand scraping or install sandbags to provide temporary protection to beachfront structures from wave uprush. The accomplishment of any work under, 22-EO-HI1 for sandbags, 22-EO-HI2 for sand scraping, and 22-EO-…, Georgetown and Horry County Emergency Orders:, , Emergency Order 22-EO-HI1: Sandbags, | VALID UNTIL October 31, 2022, EXPIRED!, Emergency Order 22-EO-HI2: Sand Scraping, | VALID UNTIL October 31, 2022, EXPIRED!, Emergency Order 22-EO-HI3: Minor Renourishment, | VALID UNTIL October 31, 2022, EXPIRED!, Emergency Order 22-EO-HI4: Returning Sand to the Beach, | VALID UNTIL October 31, 2022, EXPIRED!, Statewide Emergency Order:, Emergency Order 22-EO-HI5: Boat and Debris Removal, | VALID UNTIL FEBRUARY 28, 2023 Please be advised that federal authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, USACE, may be required for the state authorized activities in the above emergency orders. You must coordinate with the USACE to determine if federal authorization is required. Please use the following link to assist you in understanding federal requirements:, http://www.sac.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/, ., Emergency General Permits, Emergency Authorization requests are available for reconstruction or repair of coastal structures (e.g. private/joint use docks, bulkheads, community docks, marinas) in the tidelands Critical Areas of Horry and Georgetown Counties impacted by Hurricane Ian. This Emergency Authorization only applies to the reconstruction and repair of previously, permitted or grandfathered coastal structures, . Individual coverage under this Authorization must be obtained from DHEC. DHEC will work expeditiously to review and issue decisions on each request. To request Emergency Authorization, please visit, SCDES's ePermitting site, . Applicants will need to create a user account, then select "Submit a New Form,” select “Search All Available Forms,” and choose "Hurricane Ian Emergency Authorization". If you need assistance submitting a request, please contact Marian Page at, Marian.Page@des.sc.gov, ., Report Erosion and Damage, SCDES OCRM encourages residents and officials to report damage to beachfront structures, including seawalls, revetments, dune walkovers and erosion using SCDES OCRM's , MyCoast, web and mobile application. This information will assist in prioritizing post-disaster damage assessment and coordination with coastal counties and municipalities. Property owners should also report damage to structures, including homes, to their local building officials. , Post-Storm Recovery, Permitting priorities for DHEC OCRM after Hurricane Ian will focus on repair and maintenance of existing structures impacted by the event. Depending on the severity of damage to our coastal communities, issuance of permits for non-essential alteration to the critical areas may experience process delays. We appreciate your patience during this time. Structures located within the state's critical…Drinking Water Quality Monitoring
ESOP evaluates drinking water quality to ensure that radiological constituents have not affected community drinking water systems adjacent to and downstream of SRS., ESOP collects monthly drinking water composite samples from drinking water systems that use both the upper and lower portion of the Savannah River as a resource (, Drinking Water Quality Monitoring locations, ). Additional drinking water facilities that use other surface water sources in the vicinity of SRS are also sampled on a monthly basis. In total, approximately 254,000 customers are served from these drinking water facilities. SCDES’s ARESD laboratory analyzes the samples for gross alpha-, non-volatile beta-, and gamma-emitting radionuclides; whereas, SCDES’s Midlands Aiken office tests samples…Critical Pathways and Radiological Dose Assessment
ESOP uses data from environmental monitoring activities around the perimeter of SRS each year to calculate the potential radiation dose to the surrounding public within a 50-mile radius of the SRS center. , Potential radionuclide dose or exposure to the public is calculated from radioactive concentrations that are identified in the environment. A comparison of similar ESOP and SRS media allows for an evaluation of both environmental programs based on similar dose scenarios. Each year, ESOP reviews the different inhalation, ingestion, and external exposure pathways that may result in a dose to the…, Maximum Exposed Individual (MEI) =, a hypothetical subsistence and survivalist type of individual who resides downriver in the area below all SRS contributions to the Savannah River, visits the entire 50-mile perimeter study area, and receives the MEI dose based on the single highest detection per radionuclide per media detected in the environment. A typical person should receive a lower dose than the MEI as it is a conservative…, Average Exposed Individual (AEI) =, a conservative estimate based on consumption rates, average dose per media and is based on sample results only with no modeling. The AEI dose is more representative of the likely dose to the general public than the MEI dose although it also skews high, as only detections are used in the dose calculations. For a typical person in the study area, the dose they receive should be lower than the AEI…Radiological Monitoring of Vegetation
ESOP collects terrestrial vegetation twice a year, whereas edible vegetation is more dependent on availability. Both types of vegetation have the ability to uptake chemicals and be a route for human exposure. , Terrestrial Vegetation, ESOP collects samples of Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) on and around the perimeter of SRS for the presence of radionuclides. Vegetation is collected on-site, along the perimeter of SRS, and within 25 miles of the center of SRS (, Terrestrial Vegetation Monitoring locations, ). Samples are split with SRS, as available, and are analyzed for tritium and gamma-emitting radionuclides., Edible Vegetation, ESOP monitors the uptake of radionuclides in foodstuffs (domestic or wild vegetables and fruit) according to the growing season. Wild, edible fungi is collected upon availability. Sample collection points are determined by the availability of crops and the sampling location in relation to the perimeter of SRS (, Edible Vegetation Monitoring locations, ). Samples are analyzed for tritium and gamma-emitting radionuclides.