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Heidelberg Materials Southeast Agg LLC has applied to the South Carolina Department of  Environmental Services (SCDES) to modify their permit to mine granite at a site located at 240 E Howell Rd in Spartanburg County, approximately 6 miles southeast of Greer, SC. The purpose of this proposed modification is to add land to the permitted area for overburden storage and expansion of mine activities. A proposed reclamation plan to restore the site to a lake or pond has been submitted with the application.  

This webpage has been developed by SCDES as a community resource and will be updated as new information is made available. Please bring this webpage to the attention of others you know who may be interested.

Mining

SCDES’s Bureau of Land and Waste Management (BLWM) received an application for a proposed modification of the Pelham Stone Mine on March 1, 2024. The BLWM provided notice of the application in the Greer Citizen newspaper and began accepting comments on July 3, 2024. Additionally, the public notice was mailed or emailed to adjacent landowners, local and state government/regulatory agencies, and other interested parties.  

The mine permit application, reclamation plan, maps, and other related documents are available below.  

SCDES received a request for a public hearing on July 24, 2024. The request was acknowledged on August 7, 2024.

A final decision on the mine permit application will not be made until after review and consideration of all comments received through November 1, 2024.

Questions about the proposed Pelham Stone Mine modification and the BLWM’s mine permitting process may be directed to:

Kaylin Joye
Geologist/Hydrologist, Mining and Reclamation Section 
Phone: (803) 898-1367 
Email: Kaylin.Joye@des.sc.gov

Water Quality

SCDES’s Bureau of Water (BOW) issues National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits to minimize environmental impacts from stormwater runoff and other water discharges. BOW states that there will be no changes to the current NPDES coverage with this modification.

Air Quality

SCDES’s Bureau of Air Quality states that the Pelham Stone Mine modification does not warrant any changes to the processing plant and therefore does not require any changes to the current air permits. Because there are no changes, Heidelberg Materials Southeast Agg LLC is not required to submit any applications to the Bureau of Air Quality.

Public Meeting and Public Hearing

SCDES held a combination public meeting and public hearing on the proposed modification of the Pelham Stone Mine on October 17, 2024, at the Gibbs Cancer Center at Pelham located at 2759 S Hwy 14, Greer, SC 29650. The public meeting was held from 6:00 – 7:00 PM, with the public hearing held immediately thereafter. 

The public meeting was informal and provided an opportunity for participants to have a discussion with SCDES staff about the proposed quarry modification and environmental permitting process prior to giving comments at the public hearing. The meeting included a SCDES presentation about the mine permit application. Staff from DHEC’s Bureau of Land and Waste Management and Bureau of Air Quality were at the meeting to address questions and concerns. 

Impact of Public Comments in SCDES’s Permitting Process  

SCDES values all comments made during the public comment period. Local community members provide a unique perspective and are valuable resources in addressing community concerns in the permitting process.  Becoming better informed is an important first step in providing effective public comments that may influence specific terms and conditions that must be followed by the owner/operator if a permit is issued.

Effective comments are those that provide accurate, specific details about the site of a proposed project, inaccuracies in the permit application, errors in SCDES’s technical review or draft permit, and any other information demonstrating that a proposed project cannot operate in compliance with environmental regulations.    

It is important to know that SCDES cannot make a permit decision based on a vote or how many comments are received. There are also some common issues/comments related to mining operations that SCDES does not have the regulatory or legal authority to consider when making a permit decision, for example:    

  • Truck traffic, access to public roads, weight limits, and traffic patterns are governed by the South Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT) and the local county.  
  • Industrial development and operating hours are governed by the local county through zoning and land use planning.  

Beginning a conversation early about these and other quality of life issues is an effective way for communities to work together with local government officials, their legislative delegation, mining representatives, and other interested parties to find solutions and reach common goals.  

Stay Connected - Community Engagement and Resources

SCDES is committed to providing meaningful opportunities to hear the questions and concerns of community members and share information on our permitting processes. SCDES offers multiple ways to connect with our staff during the permitting process and beyond, including:

  • Calling or connecting with SCDES staff to discuss the proposed Pelham Stone Mine one-on-one.
  • Submitting a written comment or question.
  • Receiving additional information by email or mail.
  • Visiting this webpage for information and updates.
  • Stay informed about local mining issues in your community.

SCDES encourages residents to ask questions and share information with us. Staying engaged in our process helps us to learn more about your community.  

Questions about community engagement in SCDES’s permitting process may be directed to:

Donna Moye 
Phone: (803) 898-1382 
Email: Donna.Moye@des.sc.gov