Public Hearing Set to Discuss Mt. Holly Century Aluminum’s Permits

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster):  The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control has set a hearing date for the public to voice their thoughts about Century Aluminum’s operations.

The Mt. Holly location is operational in Berkeley County along Highway 52 right along the edge of the City of Goose Creek.

The hearing, set for May 28, is set the public to give written and verbal comments regarding the company’s “synthetic minor construction permit” and the “significant modification to the Title V Operating Permit.”

Century Aluminum officials said in February the plant is currently operating at 75% of its capacity. The company wants to increase that capacity to 100% by adding a fourth smelter.

The increased production would increase job production to 1,900 and increase its economic impact to $892 million.

Title V operating permits fall under the Clean Air Act.

In November of 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency ruled DHEC had failed to provide proper public notice or opportunity for public comment when they made two changes to Century’s clean air permit.

The first change to the smelter’s permit came in January of 2023 and would have allowed a nearly 50% increase in the amount of particulates that could be released by the plant.

Then, a second change in April 2023 approved an increase of sulfur dioxide emissions by nearly one-third, from 4,016 tons per year to 5,296 tons per year.

DHEC argued those changes were just minor changes to the permit and did not require public comment. The agency’s policy on major modifications to Prevention of Significant Deterioration regulations requires at least 30 days’ notice of hearings and at least a 30-day comment window.

The window for this newest public notice is from April 26 through June 3.

While the notices of the meetings are listed on DHEC’s website, as of right now it has not been outwardly publicized.

This notice comes as DHEC continues to investigate four instances of alumina dust emissions from the plant. Community members near the plant brought complaints to DHEC in October 2023 after alumina dust coated vehicles, plants, mailboxes and anything else outside in areas across Goose Creek. Plants officials noted the facility had returned to normal operations just over a week later.

The May 28 hearing will take place in Council Chambers at Goose Creek City Hall, located at 519 N Goose Creek Blvd. in Goose Creek. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. so that people can sign in and meet the DHEC staff members.

Courtesy: www.live5news.com