landfill plan
By LEE HINNANT
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has issued a draft permit for the proposed Riegel Ridge LLC landfill, a significant step for a controversial project first submitted to state environmental regulators in March 2000.
Corps Project Manager Thomas Farrell said he expected the Corps to agree to a final permit in less than a month. The permit, issued under Section 404 of the federal Clean Water Act, is designed to ensure that the landfill and associated borrow pits do not harm protected wetlands on the site and nearby. Riegel Ridge also needs the Corps’ 404 permit to destroy about a half-acre of wetlands – a ditch – traversing the spot intended for a 107-acre solid waste landfill.
The Corps permit is the second of two water quality permits crucial to the project. The state previously issued a permit under Section 401. That permit survived an 18-month court challenge by two environmental groups.
Riegel Ridge still needs other permits to build and operate the landfill, but having the Corps permit clears the way for the state Division of Solid Waste to decide whether to grant what is called a “letter of site suitability.” With that letter in hand, developers could prepare detailed engineering plans that could lead to permits for construction and management of the landfill.
“My hope is that this will break sort of a logjam,” said Bill Dreitzler, an engineer and Riegel Ridge partner. “From a technical standpoint, we’ve done a pretty good job of demonstrating that this is a suitable site … It only took four years.”
Riegel Ridge – a subsidiary of Waste Management – wants to put a 107-acre solid waste landfill on a 764-acre site six miles south of Bolton in the Green Swamp. Although favored by a majority of county commissioners, environmental groups oppose the landfill.
“We are not backing down,” said Mason Malpass, chairman of the Friends of the Green Swamp. “We will fight it until they back up and leave.” Malpass said he would consult with the group’s attorney on whether to file a lawsuit on the latest action by the Corps.
Opponents fear the landfill could contaminate groundwater and streams. They contend the facility will attract large numbers of seagulls and that a landfill doesn’t belong in the Green Swamp. The Town of Lake Waccamaw has passed a formal resolution against the project.
Developers said they would meet or exceed all environmental regulations and the landfill’s dual liners will protect the water. County officials stand to save $1.5 million a year by having free residential waste disposal and by collecting a fee on out-of-county waste. The landfill would accept municipal solid waste generated within 100 miles of Columbus County.
Dreitzler said technicians have made more than 200 soil borings or monitoring wells, so the geology and water table is well documented. He estimated Riegel Ridge has done more than one-third of the work required to move from a site suitability letter to a construction permit.
Geoff Little, an engineer with the Division of Solid Waste, said he was unaware of any technical reasons that would preclude granting Riegel Ridge the site suitability letter.
Greg Peverall, a Riegel Ridge partner, said the years of review have helped the company address many environmental concerns. “We look forward to completing a successful project with Columbus County,” he said.
