EPA: Making progress on Henry’s Knobcleanup

More than a decade after the federal government began leading the cleanup of a mine at Henry’s Knob, it’s still trying to make sure residents have clean water.

Craig Zeller, the Environmental Protection Agency’s project manager for the Henry’s Knob site off S.C. 55 west of Clover, told about a dozen Clover-area residents last week that the agency is still working on a solution.

The EPA has identified 33 property owners around the site who have been offered wellhead water treatment systems to ensure they have safe water.

About half of those property owners have accepted and have wellhead treatment systems, valued at around $20,000, he said. He said the remaining property owners are considering their options or seeking legal advice.

“We do feel we have a pretty good plan in place,” Zeller told residents of the Bethany Community Association, which asked him to visit and discuss the mine cleanup.

The federal government is trying to protect private wells around the 185-acre Henry’s Knob site from a plume of contaminated groundwater that leaked from an old kyanite mine there.

The mine operated from 1947 to 1970. The EPA got involved around 2004. Kyanite was used in the production of ceramics and porcelains that withstood high temperatures. The mine property, which has been sold several times, has been privately owned by Amanda Galloway since 1991, he said.

Groundwater has elevated levels of manganese and cobalt as a result of acid-draining rock, a problem with mines used for coal and metals.

“Does it cause cancer?” Zeller said. “Not that we know. Manganese and cobalt are not known to be carcinogens.”

The cleanup, which Zeller said is expected to cost millions and continue for at least a couple more years, is being paid for by Asea Brown Boveri Ltd., or ABB, a Swiss company which purchased the original, now-defunct mine company and assumed the environmental responsibility.

Zeller said the water problem is more of an aesthetic issue than a serious health problem. “Your water is not going to taste real good. It’s not going to look good or smell good.”

At least four properties near the site have well water where manganese and cobalt levels are high enough to be deemed unsafe by the EPA, he said. The affected property owners have been using bottled water, provided by ABB, for several years.

According to the EPA, manganese and cobalt are common in groundwater in this area, but acid levels from mining minerals rich in sulfur probably contributed to higher levels.

Zeller said the EPA is aware of the lack of vegetation, insects and fish in some areas close to the site. He said it’s the result of high acidity in water draining from the site.

The mine property, he said, includes a 7-acre pit filled with acidic water that will need to be treated.

Another part of the EPA plan is to cover the tailings, or acidic mineral deposits that were left behind from the mining, with vegetation.

The acidity in the soil and water prevents vegetation from growing, Zeller said, and discourages wildlife. One solution may be to blend manure into the top level of soil in those areas to reduce the acidity level enough to cultivate vegetation, he said.

“There has been a lot of research, a lot of success with mine cleanup,” Zeller told residents. “We are fortunate we are just dealing with manganese and cobalt, and not highly toxic stuff.”

Despite reassurances from the EPA, some area residents remain suspicious of the mine’s environmental impact.

When Zeller met with residents last fall , some complained the government had not done enough to protect their well water and that it had failed to inform them of cleanup efforts.

Terry Wilson, who lives about a mile from the center of the knob, said he has had his well water tested and has been told it is within safe levels. He has not been offered a water treatment system.

Wilson, who did not attend the Bethany meeting, said the water leaves a white residue and appears to be corrosive.

“It eats metal fixtures, and I’ve had to replace my well tank several times,” said Wilson, 60, who has lived in the Bethany area for 20 years. “If there’s something not wrong with the water, what is eating these metal fixtures?”

Wilson said he is arranging for further water testing by an independent laboratory.

Wilson and his wife, Teresa, spent months researching the impact of the mine and knocking on doors of residents.

Many of them don’t want to talk about the issue, he said.

“Some of them are afraid that if they find something wrong with their property, they are losing their life’s investment,” Wilson said. “They don’t want to talk about it. They are afraid they are going to lose what they’ve got.”

Zeller said anyone who is concerned about their well water and wants to get it tested should contact the EPA.

Zeller said the EPA is continuing to monitor water in the area on a yearly basis. He also said ABB has been responsive to the EPA’s requests.

This story was originally published March 7, 2015 at 11:00 PM with the headline "EPA: Making progress on Henry’s Knobcleanup."