MARLBORO COUNTY, SC(WMBF) A fight over a 'Mega Dump' in the Pee Dee continues in court, after the 900-acre site was proposed five years ago. DHEC took to the hot seat Tuesday after Marlboro County attorney's say DHEC approved the project, against county regulations.
DHEC officials say they were not in the wrong by approving plans to bring a landfill to Marlboro County.
While the proposed 'Mega Dump' plans were being evaluated by DHEC, Marlboro County officials say they adopted multiple regulations dealing with solid waste management.
But DHEC officials say they were not notified of the new regulations in time.
DHEC initially approved the project for the new landfill in 2007, saying the plans met state and county regulations at the time, but Marlboro county officials disagree.
People living in Marlboro County crowded the courtroom Tuesday to hear about the future of the proposed 900-acre landfill that will hold waste from across the eastern coast.
Looking around the courtroom, there was no question how people feel about the project. A majority of the audience wore T-shirts and pins that read 'No Mega Dump'.
"We really don't want the mega dump to come in," said Molly Brigman who lives a half-mile away from the site in Bennettsville.
In a non-binding referendum voted on in 2008, about 94% of voters in the area voted to deny approval for the project, for many different reasons.
"A lot of us farm and we grow our own vegetables and if this comes in, it's going to mess up all the water and streams that flow down here," said Brigman.
"We see so many landfills that are leaking and causing breathing problems to the people, it's really just a dangerous thing," said Belvin Sweatt of Marlboro County.
This landfill has shown to affect more than just people living in Marlboro County.
"The entranceway to this mega dump is in North Carolina only, there's no entrance to it except North Carolina, so our highways will be trashed," said Pam Dillman of Richmond County, North Carolina.
Marlboro County officials want DHEC to consider nearby landfills in North Carolina.
State regulations require landfills to be no closer than 75 miles to another landfill, but Marlboro County's attorney pointed out that there are multiple landfills within that range located in North Carolina.
DHEC officials say legislation doesn't include other states, although the proposed 'Mega Dump' will be located on the boarder, creating what Marlboro attorney's call a 'cluster of landfills'.
"We have wondered really, is DHEC really fighting for the citizens of South Carolina or are they fighting for a big business like the landfill companies," said Sweatt.
This battle continues after five years and people living in Marlboro County say they are not giving up the fight.
"It has been a long battle, we're going to keep on going," said Brigman.
During the hearing, Marlboro County council members and former DHEC officials took the stand to testify about how the approval process for the proposed landfill was handled - at the objection of DHEC's attorney's.
The hearing was adjourned around 5p.m. Tuesday and continues Wednesday at 10a.m. at the Marlboro County Courthouse.
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