Landfill protesters unite
By Clayton Stairs
cstairs@gtowntimes.com
With plans for a proposed 600-acre landfill in Nesmith -- it's just six miles west of the Georgetown County line -- still up in the air, many residents have joined the fight against it.
On Friday, Nov. 28, a group of 50 to 60 people opposed to the landfill organized a peaceful protest in front of the Williamsburg County Courthouse in Kingstree. This group includes people from the Coalition of Concerned Citizens of Williamsburg County and the Black River Kayak Club. (It is not affiliated with Black River Outdoors Center in Georgetown.)
Kayakers are concerned about the proximity of the site to Black Mingo Creek and the Black River. Tom Stuckey, president of the Coalition, says he and the approximately 200 people in the group are working hard to oppose the proposed landfill.
"We are trying to save our way of life and save our community," Stuckey said. "We don't think it would be in the best interest of the county because it is in a very poor rural area of the county and it will just destroy the area and the way of life in the area."
An agreement between Williamsburg County and a private landfill company named Material Recovery and Reclamation (MRR) Williamsburg, LLC, to nail down the location of the landfill, has been passed on first and second reading by Williamsburg County Council. However, due to overwhelming public outcry at each of the meetings, Council members agreed to table the agreement before it passed on third and final reading.
During a recent meeting, Council members voted on a motion to end the relationship with MRR and pursue other options which don't involve importing garbage. That is one of the public's main concerns about the landfill -- that it could be permitted to receive up to 2.3 million tons of garbage annually, much of which would come in by truck and train.
SEE LANDFILL, Page 2A
The motion did not pass, although there was a 4-3 vote in favor of the motion. County Supervisor Stanley Paisley reportedly said there needed to be a two-thirds vote to pass it.
Pasley did not return phone calls by The Times by press time Tuesday.
Jimmy Chandler, owner of the South Carolina Environmental Law Project (SCELP) in Georgetown which is representing the Coalition, says it is now questionable whether the agreement with MRR is still up for third reading. It may have to go back to first reading because it has been so long since the issue was tabled, he said.
His organization, which represents clients around South Carolina, is now preparing for any potential legal action his clients would like to pursue. Chandler says if third reading of the agreement is passed, SCELP will recommend an appeal of the vote.
In order for the construction of the "mega-dump" to begin, Williamsburg County must first comply with four requirements of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). They must first demonstrate a need, then show consistency with zoning and land use, consistency with the solid waste plan and consistency with buffer and setback requirements.
Stuckey says the real enemy in this whole situation is MRR.
"The company that the county is trying to go into business with came in here, offered our councilmen what appeared to be a pot of gold," Stuckey said. "They are preying on a disadvantaged area and they stand to profit multi-million dollars on this thing."
He says there are many groups that have joined the coalition in opposing this "mega-dump," including the Coastal Conservation League (CCL), the South Carolina Farm Bureau of Williamsburg County, the South Carolina Wildlife Federation and others.
Nancy Cave, North Coast Office director, says CCL is opposed to the landfill because it is much too large for Williamsburg County's needs, and the extra capacity will be used for imported trash from other counties and states.
"This state has enough capacity in all its landfills to meet capacity for this state two times over," Cave said. "It appears there is no need for this landfill."
She says they hope DHEC will study the need for this landfill closely and that Williamsburg County will look seriously at alternatives, including trucking garbage to nearby counties. Plans for large landfills are a statewide problem that needs to be addressed before it is too late, she says.
Mega-landfills are currently being considered in three counties in South Carolina: Williamsburg, Marlboro and Cherokee counties. The state produces about 4.6 million tons of garbage per year and we currently have capacity in the state for 9.9 million tons of waste per year, according to Cave.
"They need to look very carefully at the capacity that already exists," Cave said. "Really the question is whether South Carolina needs to be the dumping ground for other states' waste."
: 12/12/2008
No Megadump! We are not trashy people and should not be treated as such!
: 12/10/2008
If we do end up with this mega-dump. We should start filling it with our polititions.
: 12/7/2008
Stop all Megadumps in South Carolina. Stop it in Nesmith in Williamsburg County and all other Counties in South Carolina. Make sure said that Resource Management Services (RMS)(AKA Red Mountain Timber)is directed to pay the Fee, State, County, and Local taxes on the money you received for selling this land in the amount of $1,200.000 plus dollars(this price here is not exact because the dollars is much higher. A Federal Government Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Audit of both RMS and Material Recovery and Reclamation (MMR), Williamsburg County South Carolina and North Carolina LLC would find that information). RMS and MMR tell the people how much you paid the IRS on the tipping fees and the sale of land for megadumps. IRS Make sure said to please Audit these companies. We need these tax dollars from you. Make sure said you are not tax exempt. You are hereby directed to pay the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and you are notified to pay your Federal Taxes on the sale of the 600 acres you sold to for $2,000+ dollars. Make sure said we need to watch who is buying and selling up large tracts of lands in all counties of South Carolina to be used for Megadumps and put a stop to this. The County Court House can provide this information for free.
: 12/5/2008
Presently in our society today discrimination comes in various forms....one form being the proposed Williamsburg County 'megadump'......its called environmental discrimination. For Williamsburg County to even give serious consideration to a 600 'megadump' is beyond any common sense reasoning. Yes Williamsburg County is a poor county....but to prostitute their own natural resources, plus endanger the environment and the citizens of the Nesmith area who make this area their home is unforgiveable. How could anyone on Williamsburg County Council who has a conscious give any serious consideration to such a proposal that would forever alter the landscape of this area, place it's own citizens short and long term health in harms way is beyond belief. The blame for this fiasco can be spread around. Resource Management Services who has or is willing to sell the and to MMR should receive its fair share. These people are supposed to be good stewards of the land they own and yet for thirty pieces of silver they betrayed the environment....betrayed the citizens of Williamsburg County and betrayed the citizens of the Nesmith area. RMS however has no history of being an environmental friendly group which is more than evident by visiting their website. There are additional resources the folks of Williamsburg County can explore for help stopping this 'megadump'. The Sierra Club for one....this orgainzation assisted the folks in Marlboro County and have assisted to stop other 'megadumps' in neighboring North Carolina. Another is the Dogwood Alliance...an organization that is organized to help stop the destruction of Southern forests and forces accountability upon large Southern timber owners/managers. I urge the people of Williamsburg County and the good people of the Nesmith to keep fighting the proposed 'megadump'and to keep applying pressure to anyone involved who is in favor of this potential environmental disaster.
: 12/5/2008
Why were there not more protesters, or at least in the camera shot? With a situation this critical, you'd assume all of Williamsburg county, not to mention near-by Johnsonville and Pleasant Hill would unite against it.
: 12/5/2008
to Mr. Duh, oh I mean Uh What? Maybe I should have said common courtesy instead of common sense.
: 12/4/2008
RMS-Resource Management Services (aka Red Mountain Timber)owns the land on which the landfill will be established. These folks are a fly-by-night company that purchased the IP timberlands in 1996. They have an office near Nine Mile Curve just outside Georgetown. The telephone number is 843-546-4276.....flood their office with calls against this landfill. RMS bears the blame for agreeing to sell this land to MMR......and all for an almighty dollar. From what I understand RMS sold this land for around $2,000 per acre, a give away price. RMS doesn't care about the citizens in Williamsburg County nor Nesmith nor the short/long term damage to the environment. As long as they get their "trash" money to pad their profit margin RMS could care less.
: 12/4/2008
To "Up in arms" -- I'm also glad I don't live in Williamsburg County! I'm glad we could find some common ground. Also, I object to your assertion that I do not use common sense. I use it every time I ride through towns in Williamsburg County; I make sure to lock my car doors to protect myself from the vagrants and criminals lining the streets.
: 12/4/2008
To inquiring mind. RMS owns the land. They have a local office in Georgetown at nine mile curve. The land was formally owned by IP. When asked about the land deal at a local landfill meeting, concerned citizens were told that was none of our business on how much per acre and who was going to sell the county the land. RMS is as much to blame for this mega dump site surfacing as MRR or County council. They should not even considered such usage for forestland to be used as a landfill.This is so ironic. What about water quality,air quality, envoromental protection,wildlife protection. All these tie into good forest stewardship. RMS should no better.They are in it for the dollar. It is obvious their land does not mean anything to them as well as the local community. RMS needs to withdrawl the offer and practice public relations!
: 12/4/2008
This is directed to Mr. Uh What. I live in Williamsburg County and I'm glad you don't. In love with Black River assumed your arrogance towards our area was caused by ignorance. But you disproved that by your high level of grammar skills. I don't claim to know you either but it sounds like you just use commas and not common sense. Have a nice life in spite of yourself and have a good time proof reading this entry. I didn't use any commas just for you!
: 12/4/2008
Dear "In Love with Black River," I do not claim to know you. Because we do not know each other, your basis for concluding that I've never floated down (or lived along) Black River is unclear and unsupported. I'm also not sure why that assumption is relevant to this discussion. Finally, I do not assume that all Williamsburg residents are uneducated; however, I did notice that you were never educated on the importance of punctuation in the English language. Here's a comma (,); learn to use it.
: 12/4/2008
RFW Allston...I owe you an apology! I miss read your comment and I agree with you 100% Sorry!
: 12/4/2008
I hope the citizens of Williamsburg and surrounding counties affected by this landfill will do their due diligence and educate themselves on the facts regarding this proposal. It's ulimately irresponsible to put a megadump in our county -- it will devastate our existing roadways, add too much traffic for dumping and disrupt the environment and wildlife in the area. The citizens of Williamsburg should be proud in their efforts thus far in coming together to battle this proposal. Keep up the good work and contact your legislators and councilment!
: 12/4/2008
Who owns the land? Is it on the market? Who is the realtor? Anyone have a contract, right of first refusal or option to buy any of it? How much is it worth, price wise, with the dump on it and how much without? What about surrounding properties--who owns them?, etc. Does any profit in the venture trace back to people holding public office or government employees?
: 12/3/2008
The issue with this megadump is not that we don't accept the responsibility of dealing with our own trash, 'in other words'. The problem is that we would be taking in over 10 times the amt. of waste than what we ourselves produce. We are very aware of the need for a landfill that is the appropriate capacity for our own waste. But to destroy 600 ACRES of a very sensitive ecosystem to house trash from NY and other states, that is unacceptable. As for 'not doing our part', my family has been driving our recycling 15 miles every week...if everyone else did that, we wouldn't have this problem, now would we?
: 12/3/2008
We must contact our legislators and Governor Sanford and encourage them to take a stand against shipping in waste to our state. DHEC is a joke. While other states are tightening their guidelines to make mega-dumps harder in their states-we are making it easier in SC. I think I am becoming a tree-hugger. Please recycle.
: 12/3/2008
Uh, what? & RFW Allston you are both idiots! Number one do not call us carpetbaggers. You do not know me personally and as a citizen of Williamsburg County I take offense to that. Uh, What? You have probably never been so lucky as to float down Black River on a summer day or walk through the thousands of acres of forest that Williamsburg County offers. It is a beautiful place that I am happy to call home and just b/c a few of our fellow residence are poor, uneducated and lazy do not assume we all are. This can be and will be stop! I do not want to see this Yankee trash come anywhere near my state and most certainly to my back yard.
: 12/3/2008
There's no NEED for another mega-dump ANYWHERE in the State of South Carolina. Thank you Coalition, kayakers and League for standing up for the entire state. We deserve a clean and healthy home.
: 12/3/2008
Please contact your elected officials and urge them to pass a moratorium on new landfill permits! Unless they protect us SC will soon be the Garbage State, with more garbage coming here than tourists!
: 12/3/2008
Keep this Yankee garbage on of our area. Don't be taken advantage of these carpetbaggers!
: 12/3/2008
And just exactly who says that we don't do our part?? You?? And how would you know anyway?? Do you really want to see the state, and poor counties like Williamsburg especially, become toxic mega-dumps for states who don't allow landfills to be constructed because they think their state is so much more special than ours?? What an idiotic thing to say! Go back to sleep.
: 12/2/2008
In other words, let's not do our part, but when we need to dump on someone else it's fine and dandy.