The state Department of Health and Environmental Control board has scheduled a hearing in January on plans to dump treated sewage in a peach orchard near McBee.

DHEC's board agreed unanimously Thursday to hear an appeal by the small Chesterfield County town.

McBee officials say a DHEC staff decision allowing the sewage discharges could pollute their drinking water. They want the board to overturn the agency's staff and deny the disposal. The proposal by the Alligator Rural Water and Sewer Co. would allow discharges onto a five-acre field from a new sewage treatment plant.

Board member Edwin Cooper said he'd received a call from former DHEC Commissioner Doug Bryant about the issue. Bryant is providing advice to the town, Mayor John Campolong said this week.

- Sammy Fretwell