Landfills can continue, as Senate refuses ban

A key Senate subcommittee balked at establishing a statewide moratorium on new permits for landfills designed to handle construction debris.

The Medical Affairs Committee did, however, approve a resolution banning new landfill construction of facilities that are dedicated to handling debris from new construction, demolition, and land-clearing work in Anderson County.

The measure, sponsored by Sen. Kevin Bryant, R-Anderson, is designed to reverse a judge's ruling that cleared the way for a new permit in Anderson County, that DHEC had denied.

An agency spokesperson said the proposed new landfill was not part of Anderson County's five-year plan.

However, a local attorney told the committee that Bryant's effort to ban the new landfill legislatively is unconstitutional because it is special legislation being substituted for a general purpose.

Local legislation also has often been the subject of Gov. Mark Sanford's veto pen.

In other action, the subcommittee also approved a resolution creating a healthy lifestyles study committee, designed to explore ways by Jan. 1, 2009, to improve the health of South Carolinians.

Comments

[Mike]

It is useful to note in every instance where a controversial landfill issue arises, there is no comprehensive planning, nor county-wide zoning. The residents of these areas protesting siting of disposal facilities are commonly the same ones who fought zoning. They now blame everyone but themselves for the inability to stop these activities when a simple zoning plan could easily prohibit this type of land use.

[Gary]

I worked for Loveless and Loveless as a Dozer operator - after weeks on the job I realized the debris I was pushing with the Dozer in one area kept sinking. I wondered aloud if this was going down into an underground spring and mentioned this to several people. Well I even turned that into the government, mentioning it to people who live near the landfill that is near Gilbert. Nothing has happened as far as I know and this was years ago. If they would just keep on top of this sort of thing in Columbia the water quality might improve and or remain good.
Imagine if there is an underground stream - what that could be doing to the water supply of the future. Oh well eh? I of course only suspect this and I am no expert or authority but I know sinking ground when I see it. Even got the dozer stuck in it once - and had to have a very large wrecker come pull it out.
Best of it to you

[Tara]

South Carolina needs to enact legislation to protect its citizens and to prevent it from becoming the largest trash importer in the nation. Land in SC is much cheaper than in the northern states and zoning is not enacted in many areas, especially the poorer areas of this state.
The organizations that build and operate the landfills know this and are coming here so they can make a hefty profit at the expense of the residents and taxpayers. They seem to be targeting localities where the black population is higher and/or they don't think people will be able to stand up against them. They have plenty of money to spend, the localities don't. Right now this state has an "open door" policy, and small communities must fight a giant landfill organization using only local resources. This is unfair. Our state should be backing us with legislative protection, giving localities the power to prevent a landfill without having to file and pay for lawsuits.
Pay attention because your neighborhood may be next. Because the states that border us are taking proper measures and protecting their citizens, South Carolina's cheap land and lack of protections will be even more inviting. Wake up South Carolina and do something.. now!!

[Commonman]

There needs to be more liability placed on the landfill sites when the ground water is contaminated due to their operation. Someone lives on property in the country and all of a sudden there is a landfill with its foul odors and contaminants entering the ground water. The price of the land surrounding the landfill falls and an innocent person is left holding the bag. At a minimum, the landfill operator should be required to offer to purchase the affected property for fair market value existing prior to the location of the landfill. I have literally seen buzzards roosting on a roof-top of a residence located close to a landfill in the Low Country. Also, I was told of farm animals dying from drinking from what used to be a clean stream. The local politicians had no incentive to correct the situation they created. Call it what you want, but this is wrong.

[Sam]

Marlboro County, SC is currently fighting a proposed mega dump. This mega dump would start out at 900 acres! 3 or 4 times the size of Bishopville. The property would contain around 4000 acres, plenty of room for future expansion.

The current Marlboro County Waste Management Plan states: "It is Marlboro County's Policy not to accept waste generated from outside of the County". (Page 18, S. Import and Export of Waste)

So why did SCDHEC recently issue a Preliminary Letter of Consistency when it is clearly not consistent with this County's Waste Management Plan? And... Marlboro County has never issued a Letter of Consistency themselves... which is required prior to SCDHEC allowing any type of permit application be filed?

[Joey]

Sam, you are not correct in the information you provided.

[Joey]

it looks like Mike is the only one that gets it. Please everyone do yourself a favor and read his post.

[bbtex]

Yes< Sam, contrary to what someone else wrote, YOU ARE CORRECT. I live here and I'm fighting it. I SHOULD KNOW!

[Ann]

Anderson County has 16 landfills of which 13 are C&D sites. So in all good judgement why do we need another? Just because someone wants it? There is no thought of what the community might want. DHEC has made themselves clear in that respect. And I always thought DHEC meant protecting us from harmful contaminant leachates from landfills that are built on sandy silk & wetlands and 100 yr. flood plains, etc. Department of HEALTH & ENVIROMENT??? I am disappointed that DHEC waits on the public to do their job, such as "TECHNICAL" research to see if there's "TECHNICAL" reasons for a landfill permit NOT to be issued. If they had done their research, we wouldn't be having this battle we're fighting today. It is in my opinion landfills of all kinds should be made to be on the outskirts of counties with plenty of open
land with no fear of harming, contaminating or destroying someone’s property values or community, such as the propsed landfill on Hamlin rd. would do. They also should not be allowed to be an LLC, that only protects the landfill owners, not John Q Public. There needs to be more accountability of the ownders of landfills. It's all about the $. This proposed landfill on Hamlin Rd. in Anderson Co. is right in the middle of a growing community. NOT YET ZONED. And there is the underlying problem. Zoning would prohibit this type of industy from coming into a community. I for one am in favor of zoning, it's for our protection against unwanted land use. I would say to anyone fighting against a community landfill or any other unwanted industry, protect it by ZONING YOUR PRECINCT!! You can't straddle the fence for ever, and while you're thinking about it, you wake up one morning and guess what?? There's something there that wasn't before. I hope to say very soon, WE HAVE THAT PROTECTION...