Tag: DHEC

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A Salem Road Update with a Twist

Sand truck

After Channel 4 came out last week, Channel 2 News also came out on Monday May 6th, and did another short new piece focused on Salem Road and the truck damage to our roads by the sand trucks. (Link to the Channel 2 Live news story Trucks carrying dirt from nearby mines causing damage to roads in Dorchester).

Members of our town have discussed in-person the road condition issues with our District 1 County Council Member Harriet Holman and our SC State Representative House District 97 – Robby Robbins. Mr. Robbins toured our area on Sunday, May 5th, and Mrs. Holman was to tour our area on Tuesday, May 7th. Early feedback is the Department of Transportation (DOT) folks are “working on a plan to completely redo” Salem Road. While it may take them a few weeks to get everything together the end product should be a completely new Salem Road.

In trying to research the Salem mine permit (there is none) with the DHEC Mining folks, I learned the two mine sites on Salem Road are Department of Transportation (DOT) “borrow pits.” And it should come as no surprise, DOT borrow pits are apparently exempt from having to obtain a mine operating permit. This would also explain the lack of community notice for mining operations and why the DOT is so quick to come up with a plan to replace the road.

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Another Sand Mine is Coming To Dorchester – Update!

I had not received the needed ten petition signature until Sunday, August 13th and sent the petition for a public meeting to DHEC despite being past the deadline. DHEC responded today with a letter indicating they would not proceed with a Public Hearing due to the missed regulatory deadline, but would arrange for a Public Meeting. The public meeting will allow for the exchange of information and provide an opportunity for the community to express our concerns.

Once the public meeting details are received, interested parties will be notified and I will update this site with the meeting time and place details.

DHEC Letter
DHEC Letter

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Oakridge Landfill Is Looking For Approval To Grow Again

Oakridge Landfill Location

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) is reviewing another expansion application from the Oakridge Landfill. Reported in The Eagle Record on October 21, 2021, the landfill wants to expand again, this time both horizontally and vertically. The landfill wants to add about 58 acres and be able to stack trash to taller than 350 feet, higher than the elevation of the state capital, Columbia. This would likely becoming the highest point of land in the low country.

While not yet approved, the landfill’s application for additional growth has passed SCDHEC’s initial quick review of the technical aspects of the permit. The process is now open for public comment and SCDHEC is taking written comments or requests for a public meeting until November 19, 2021. If there is enough public interest, they may hold a public meeting to explain the process and receive additional comments.

Oakridge Landfill Expansion
Oakridge Landfill Expansion

You can find the Public Notice of the Proposed Lateral Expansion at the Oakridge Class 3 Landfill here.

You can review all of the public notice permit details (including submitted site drawings showing the proposed growth) here.

The state landfill regulations can be reviewed here.

You can contact SCDHEC to make a comment now (until 11/19/2021) by sending a letter to
DHEC/BLWM-SWPMS
Attention: Justin Koon
2600 Bull Street
Columbia, SC 29201
or you can call Justin Koon at (803) 898-1339
or email him at koonjt@dhec.sc.gov

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Pineland Sand Mine Application Gets Approved

Sand Mine

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) provided notice of approval of the Application and Reclamation Plan for a Mine Operating Permit and Issuance of Mine Operating Permit I-002279 to Sandridge Road Holdings, LLC for the Pineland Mine in Dorchester County, South Carolina,

DHEC received the permit application for the proposed Pineland Mine in September of 2019.  DHEC’s Bureau of Land and Waste Management (BLWM) placed the mine operating permit application on public notice in February 27, 2020 and held a virtual public hearing to receive comments on the mine operating permit application on July 23, 2020.  DHEC received comments and concerns between February 27, 2020 and August 7, 2020 and provided a Summary Response to Comments.  

You can find all of the details including the Mine Operating Permit, Summary Response to Comments, and other information relevant to Pineland Mine can be viewed on DHEC’s website at:  https://scdhec.gov/environment/environmental-sites-projects-permits-interest/pineland-mine

Some of the public comments or concerns expressed, including defined operating hours and the ability to hold the mine responsible for disruption of nearby well disturbed by mining operations, have been incorporated in to the permit.

After consideration of all information presented, review of all public comments received, as well as additional information provided by the applicant, the BLWM approved the requested application for a Mine Operating Permit.

If you are an affected party, you have the right to request a final review of this permit decision.  This request must be made in writing to the Clerk of the DHEC Board.  Procedures for requesting this review are enclosed and more information can be viewed on DHEC’s website at:  https://scdhec.gov/about-dhec/sc-board-health-and-environmental-control/guide-board-review

Any questions or for further DHEC assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the project manager, Mason Brandes, at 803-898-1369 or by e-mail at brandemd@dhec.sc.gov 

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Pineland Sandmine DHEC Public Meeting

Pineland Sandmine DHEC Public Meeting & Comment Period. I would like to thank everyone in the community who was able to call-in to the DHEC virtual Public Meeting last night. Many great questions were asked and issues expressed.

If you were not able to attend, the meeting was recorded and DHEC indicated they would post the recording today or early next week on the web-site linked below. Please share with interested parties.

DHEC is still accepting public comments through early August. Written comments on the mine operating permit application should be submitted by e-mail or US Mail to:

Mason Brandes, Project Manager
DHEC Bureau of Land and Waste Management
2600 Bull Street Columbia, SC 29201
Email: brandemd@dhec.sc.gov

A final decision on the mine operating permit application will not be made until after review and consideration of all written comments received. I would encourage everyone to review the materials (and public meeting recording when posted) also on the web-site linked below. Included are the permit applications, the mining maps, the post-mining reclamation plan, and a host of other documents.

https://www.scdhec.gov/environment/ongoing-projects-updates/pineland-mine

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