Foes Told Dirt Mine is State Issue
By Jamie McGee, The Post and Courier, Charleston, S.C.
May 24–HUGER — When it comes to preventing a dirt mine in the Green Bay community, Berkeley County is powerless, Supervisor Jim Rozier told about 30 Green Bay residents Monday.
Rozier said it is a state issue and he will contact the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control and ask why DHEC is telling residents the proposed dirt mine is a county issue.
Rep. Joe Jefferson, D-Pineville, and Sen. Larry Grooms, R-Bonneau, said they would visit DHEC’s office to learn more. “We’ll do what we need to do to stop this,” Jefferson said.
O.L. Thompson Construction Co. wants to build a 78-acre dirt mine on land owned by Congaree-Carton Limited Partnership in the Francis Marion National Forest.
Area residents fear the dirt mine will affect well water, surrounding environment and quality of life.
“If it’s something that could harm the community and endangered species and the environment, if the water pumping could drain their wells, we don’t need to have that there,” Jefferson said.
Craig Kennedy of DHEC’s mining division said recently that Berkeley County Council could stop the mine.
Under Berkeley County’s rules, if the project fits the zoning, the applicant can move forward with no county oversight. County Council could change its ordinance to prevent similar projects, but this mine would be grandfathered in, County Attorney Mark Stokes said.
Because no mining has begun, Stokes said Berkeley County could change the zoning, but it would take at least three months. If the issue goes to court, a judge could decide an application to DHEC means the project is under way.
Council passed a resolution opposing the mine Monday.
DHEC must approve the permit for the project and its Ocean and Coastal Resource Management office must certify the permit. Mining could last at least five years.
Congaree-Carton owns about 3,000 acres in the forest. Most of the land is in Charleston County, and area residents wonder why O.L. Thompson chose Berkeley County for digging.
Charleston County requires DHEC to permit mining projects before the proposal goes to its Zoning Appeals Board, which requires a public hearing. The board can deny the project or require other conditions for approval, and its decision can be appealed.
“The applicant has to do more homework,” said Dan Pennick, Charleston County’s assistant planning director.
Thompson said at DHEC’s recent public hearing he chose the site because it was close to Mount Pleasant, where he will sell the dirt.
Rozier said Thompson has contributed $1,000 to Rozier’s campaign each election, but his contributions have no effect on the county’s decisions. “If he expected payments, I’d give the money back,” he said.
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