COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – The Congaree Riverkeeper says it is sounding the alarm about what it describes as years of damaging pollution tied to a major Columbia manufacturing facility.
The organization has filed a federal lawsuit against Alpek Polyester USA, LLC, and Eastman Chemical Company. The lawsuit says the companies co-operate an industrial plant on the river in Gaston, where tiny plastic pellets known as “nurdles” are manufactured.
Congaree Riverkeeper alleges the companies have polluted the Congaree River and Congaree National Park with plastic pellets.
Bill Stangler with the Congaree Riverkeeper said he has spent the past year collecting thousands of small plastic pellets from the Congaree River.
“It went from a few dozen to a few hundred, and at this point we’ve collected more than 10,000 of these plastic pellets,” Stangler said.
Stangler claims the source is Alpek Polyester and Eastman Chemical Company, which the Riverkeeper described as a chemical plant that creates plastic material also known as “nurdles.”
“Honestly, I think the name is a little too cute for the problems that they cause,” Stangler said. “This company has decided it can be the dumping ground for their plastic waste and toxic chemicals, and that’s just not acceptable,” Stangler said.
The lawsuit claims the plant’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit does not authorize discharges of plastic pellets into the Congaree River.
The complaint also points to permit language requiring facilities that handle pre-production plastic to implement best management practices “to eliminate discharges of plastic in stormwater,” including plastic resin pellets.
Carl Brzorad, representing the Riverkeeper, said there is a broader concern tied to human health.
“There are two drinking water sources that are downstream from the plant,” Brzorad said.
The lawsuit identifies the Lake Marion Regional Water System and the Lake Moultrie Regional Water System and alleges they supply drinking water to communities across parts of Dorchester, Calhoun, Berkeley, and Orangeburg counties, as well as the Town of Santee, the City of Goose Creek, and Moncks Corner.
The complaint also cites the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services as concluding the plant’s discharges have the “potential to affect” a public drinking water intake downstream.
Eastman Chemical Company responded, saying it has policies and procedures in place to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. A spokesperson also said the company owns only some equipment at the facility, while Alpek owns and operates the site.
We take seriously the allegations made by Southern Environmental Law Center on behalf of Congaree Riverkeeper. Eastman is committed to protecting the health, safety and environment of the communities where we operate. We have policies and procedures in place designed to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations and to protect the environment. Although a limited portion of the manufacturing equipment at the Columbia, SC facility is owned by Eastman, the site is otherwise owned by Alpek and is operated in its entirety by Alpek. Because this is an active case, we cannot comment further at this time.
The group said the lawsuit is aimed at holding the companies accountable and preserving the Congaree River for future generations.
WIS reached out to Alpek Polyester for comment, but had not received a response.
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