NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – The South Carolina Ports Authority has applied for a voluntary cleanup contract with the state’s Department of Health and Environmental Control to begin studying the environmental impacts of an old North Charleston paper mill.
The WestRock paper mill operated in North Charleston for decades on land that the ports recently bought with plans in mind to expand shipping capacity.
“There are definitely going to be legacy environmental impacts that need to be remediated following the closure of the paper mill. It’s been burning a combination of wood pulp and coal for a long time,” Coastal Conservation League Energy and Climate Program Director Taylor Allred says.
Allred believes researchers are still working to learn the effects of these materials, and in the meantime, he is interested to learn what lingers on the land, and what will be done to make sure any hazards are contained.
“I think that we still need to fully expand our understanding of exactly what those impacts are and what’s going to be needed to clean it up. I’m hopeful that that job will be done properly,” Allred says.
DHEC says often when there are contaminants found on land, the property owner is responsible, blamed and punished. DHEC calls contaminated land a brownfield.
“And for that reason, no one was willing to become an owner of a property that was contaminated or even perceived to be contaminated,” DHEC Brownfields Program Manager Robert Hodges says.
But, to allow land to be sold and repurposed responsibly, laws created voluntary cleanup contracts. The program means DHEC will not hold the Ports Authority accountable for the contaminants left by the mill and the Ports Authority must pay to study the environmental impact and take measures to make sure there’s no risk of encountering hazardous material once the ports begin business.
“It ensures us the comfort of knowing the environmental characteristics of the property and it gives us the topic of long-term stewardship, that even if it’s contaminated, it will not have an adverse impact to health and the environment,” Hodges says.
Charleston Waterkeeper Andrew Wanderley says it’s not just the land that was impacted by the mill, but the waterways as well.
“So pollution from papermaking is particularly problematic for the levels of dissolved oxygen and so that discharge or the pollution from that plant actually drove the levels of dissolved oxygen in the water. pretty low. And so now that the plant is not operating anymore, that means more dissolved oxygen, is available for fish and for marine life, but also available for plants and other things that depend on oxygen in the water to thrive,” Wunderley says.
He says he expects the water life to grow and flourish now that the water has the chance to heal. But the potential contaminants held in the soil and groundwater still have consequences and could make it to the waterways.
“So it’s really important that we study and find out what’s there, how to best clean it up, and then clean it up so that the site can be reused,” Wunderley says. DHEC’s voluntary cleanup program is really important because it allows that process to take place and gives it a framework to happen.”
DHEC’s voluntary cleanup contract states that the owner with private dollars will assess the land, and then put measures in place to prevent exposure to pollutants. Hodges says that doesn’t mean the new owners have to completely pay to fully clean up everything on the property, but to at least secure it safely.
“The cleanup efforts all depend on the purchaser’s intended use of the property. They can choose the method of cleanup, generally, the contamination is not very severe. It’s just the stigma of it,” Hodges says.
He says protective measures can look different based on each site. Remediation itself has different level expectations based on the incoming industry, the neighboring property and what the environmental assessment finds.
“So we, we employ engineering controls to prevent exposure to contamination and administrative controls,” Hodges says. “Engineering would be to put a cover over contaminated soil and ground so people won’t come in contact with it. Administrative controls be like land use controls, deed restrictions, if it’s contaminated to a point where it’s okay for an industry to be there as fact, but if someone wants to put residences in it’s got to be a little cleaner.”
Allred has a few concerns about what the study will find and hopes it’s dealt with appropriately if there are major issues.
“One of the potential contaminants that can be difficult to deal with is the residual coal ash, and it’s highly toxic. It contains a lot of poisonous heavy metals including arsenic. And historically there have been a lot of environmental justice issues that have come out of the disposal of coal ash,” Allred says.
He is hoping the job is done right with the well-being of all in mind. DHEC has a public hearing period on this voluntary cleanup contract through June 5th.
The public may provide written, email, or telephone comments directed to Jerry Stamps, Project Manager, by e-mail at stampsjm@dhec.sc.gov, by calling 803-898-0927, or toll-free at 866-576-3432.
Written comments should be directed to Jerry Stamps, SCDHEC, 2600 Bull St., Columbia, SC 29201.
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