MONCKS CORNER, S.C.–For homeowners who live near GenEarth, a company that converts organic waste into renewable resources, the smell has become almost unbearable. Now Moncks Corner town leaders are looking into how to resolve the issue.
According to Moncks Corner Mayor Bill Peagler, he is fully aware of the complaints and says some people have even reported experiencing nausea, sore throats and severe skin irritation from the sludge. Others, he says, have witnessed uncovered tractor trailer rigs bringing wastewater sludge from various places including the City of Charleston’s Plum Island Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Peagler says he has reviewed the land application permit that was issued to Bioenergy Technologies of Berkeley County (LLC doing business as GenEarth) and is advising the public that there are odor control requirements in the land application permit.
It reads “Should an odor problem come to the attention of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control through field surveillance or specific complaints, the Department may determine, in accordance with Section 48-1-120 of the Pollution Control Act, if the odor is at an undesirable level by considering the character and degree of injury or interference to:
a) The health and welfare of the people;
b) Plant, animal, freshwater aquatic or marine life;
c) Property, or
d) Enjoyment of life or use of affected property.”
Peagler added that town officials called SCDHEC’s 24 hour emergency number on the night of Sunday, August 17, and was told “SDCHEC does not have the funds to investigate this type of problem after hours.”
The mayor says since SCDHEC has refused to provide adequate field surveillance during the height of the odor crisis because of said budget constraints, he’s asked his staff to prepare a report documenting specific complaints to provide SCDHEC with the necessary documentation to determine that an undesirable level of odor exists.
Peagler is also asking anyone with a complaint to please contact the Moncks Corner Police Department and file an incident complaint giving the exact time and date of the problem, stating if the odor is/was at an undesirable level and stating the character and degree of injury or interference to:
a) The health and welfare of the people;
b) Plant, animal, freshwater aquatic or marine life;
c) Property, or
d) Enjoyment of life or use of affected property, as required by and clearly stated in the permit.
Persons living outside the town should call the Berkeley Co. Sheriff’s Office and make a report and provide copy of their incident report to Moncks Corner Police Chief Chad Caldwell.
The mayor added that he is very sympathetic to the concerns of the public, and “will do everything possible to correct the problem.”
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