The contamination from an abandoned textile mill poses grave risks to health and agriculture, prompting a federal Superfund cleanup proposal.
**10,000 Acres of Contaminated Farmland: A Call for Superfund Remediation**
**10,000 Acres of Contaminated Farmland: A Call for Superfund Remediation**
Environmental concerns rise as South Carolina ponders the fate of farmland tainted by toxic chemicals.
As South Carolina faces a significant environmental crisis, the state's health officials are advocating for a sweeping federal Superfund cleanup of nearly 10,000 acres of farmland, heavily tainted with hazardous “forever chemicals.” This alarming situation traces back to the now-abandoned Galey & Lord textile mill in Society Hill, which, during its operation, distributed sludge from its wastewater process as a purportedly beneficial fertilizer to local farmers.
For decades, these farmers unknowingly spread toxic substances across their fields, resulting in alarming levels of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) contamination. The mill, known as the “King of Khaki” for its historical significance in the cotton industry, became a notorious site not only for its cessation of operations but for the environmental liability it left behind. The repercussions are far-reaching, as many of these fields are still actively cultivated, raising urgent health concerns among the community.
Local farmer Robert O’Neal recalls utilizing the sludge in the late 1990s, believing it would boost his crops. Now, he grapples with the fallout of those past decisions. This case stands as potentially the first recognition of farmland being earmarked for Superfund status due to sludge-derived contamination, marking a significant development in environmental law and agricultural practice. The abandoned Galey & Lord site was designated a Superfund location three years ago, underscoring the extent of the area’s pollution crisis.
As investigations continue and testing reveals the pressing nature of the situation, South Carolina's proposal highlights the increasing need for widespread accountability and direction for addressing environmental hazards stemming from historical industrial practices. The handling of this crisis poses an essential question: how do we reconcile agricultural heritage with the necessity of environmental health?
For decades, these farmers unknowingly spread toxic substances across their fields, resulting in alarming levels of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) contamination. The mill, known as the “King of Khaki” for its historical significance in the cotton industry, became a notorious site not only for its cessation of operations but for the environmental liability it left behind. The repercussions are far-reaching, as many of these fields are still actively cultivated, raising urgent health concerns among the community.
Local farmer Robert O’Neal recalls utilizing the sludge in the late 1990s, believing it would boost his crops. Now, he grapples with the fallout of those past decisions. This case stands as potentially the first recognition of farmland being earmarked for Superfund status due to sludge-derived contamination, marking a significant development in environmental law and agricultural practice. The abandoned Galey & Lord site was designated a Superfund location three years ago, underscoring the extent of the area’s pollution crisis.
As investigations continue and testing reveals the pressing nature of the situation, South Carolina's proposal highlights the increasing need for widespread accountability and direction for addressing environmental hazards stemming from historical industrial practices. The handling of this crisis poses an essential question: how do we reconcile agricultural heritage with the necessity of environmental health?
