SC attorney general wants answers on Silfab spill ahead of ‘further actions’
S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson wants answers from Silfab Solar on what happened during Tuesday’s chemical spill so the state can decide “what further actions may be warranted.”
Wilson wrote a letter to the Fort Mill solar panel manufacturer asking for details on the potassium hydroxide spill by March 13. The letter comes in response to residents near the Silfab site at 7149 Logistics Lane and parents of children at nearby Flint Hill Elementary School.
People there have “serious and legitimate” safety concerns, Wilson wrote.
Early Tuesday, York County reported that 1,530 gallons of potassium hydroxide spilled but that Silfab contained 1,500 gallons in a retention pool. The county cited Silfab as the source of that information. By mid-day, the county updated its information to say “closer to 300” gallons spilled.
York County, Silfab and other agencies including the Fort Mill School District stated throughout the process that there was no public danger resulting from the spill. Potassium hydroxide can irritate the skin, eyes and respiratory system if humans come in direct contact with it.
Wilson asked for detailed causes of the spill, when Silfab became aware of it, company measures to protect against spills, special measures given the site’s proximity to a school and how it was determined so quickly that there was no danger to the public.
Wilson also wants answers on environmental impact, and why two different numbers were given on the amount of chemical spilled.
Silfab Director of Operations Greg Basden issued a statement on Tuesday noting water was released that contained .03% potassium hydroxide.
“We notified York County emergency management per protocol, and they responded immediately,” it said. “The situation is under control. We are working with our local emergency services and there is no danger to public safety.”
SC politicians call for answers from Silfab
Wilson, who has announced plans to run for governor this fall, is one of several public officials asking Silfab for details or the state for a response. South Carolina Department of Environmental Services Director Myra Reece sent a notice to Silfab that it shouldn’t accept and more chemicals and should pause its start-up plan until a state review is completed.
S.C. Sens. Michael Johnson and Wes Climer, both Republicans representing parts of York County, co-wrote a letter Tuesday calling for state action on what had been a county decision to allow Silfab to operate in a spot zoned for light industrial use.
“Today all of that changed,” Johnson said after the spill.
S.C. Rep. David Martin, a Fort Mill Republican, said Tuesday he was “livid” and wanted the state environmental department to stop all work at Silfab while regulators get details on the spill.
Silfab released another statement on Wednesday afternoon, saying the company is cooperating with the state environmental department on what was a “minor leak of approximately 300 gallons of water that contained a small amount of potassium hydroxide.”
The leak was confined to a small area on the property, according to Silfab.
“The leak has been cleared, and we are undertaking remediation efforts in coordination with (the environmental department) and York County,” the company said. “We have paused chemical deliveries until authorization from (the environmental department). In the meantime, Silfab maintains operations safely and responsibly.”