Landfill Operators under Investigation by State

By Daniel Hawn

Published on October 04, 2006

The state initiated the investigation after its Highway 90 citizen liaison, Amelia Wood, reported that the landfill received four truckloads of utility poles treated with chemicals that included creosote, which is known to cause cancer.

Ricky Hardee, executive director of the Solid Waste Authority, said the poles were used to form a roadbed as part of a forestry project on the landfill’s property. He said his company's use of the poles complied with the rules of the state forestry commission.

Wood said the landfill is located near the homes of residents who use private wells for drinking water. She said the company's use of the poles violated DHEC regulations designed to protect groundwater from contamination.

Wood has called for the resignation of four Solid Waste Authority officials on account of the matter.

The DHEC confirmed that it is conducting an investigation to determine whether any wrongdoing occurred, but said that it would not comment further until the investigation is complete.

Comment on this article →