Letters: Lexington Council must do DHEC’s job

At a recent meeting about a proposed granite quarry on U.S. 1 near Gilbert and Batesburg-Leesville, residents of western Lexington County found out that DHEC cannot or does not provide independent regulatory oversight and has relied almost solely on information provided by the applicant. Apparently there is no independent verification, and inspections are conducted at two- to five-year intervals.

This means the licensee will determine whether adjacent well failures are the result of quarry operations, as occurred recently when the Department of Natural Resources warned that a Cherokee County well would run dry as a result of blasting: DHEC staff responded that the applicant said it would not be a problem. DHEC says resources limit its oversight, so why issue additional permits?

Our only protection comes from DHEC and Lexington County Council. We hope Lexington County Council members are more critical in their assessment of the potential risk that comes with the quarry.