Settlement Reached Resolving Citizen Group’s Challenge to Discharge Permit for Darlington Polyester Plant

Today, Winyah Rivers Alliance, represented by the Southern Environmental Law Center, finalized a settlement agreement with Fiber Industries, LLC – a polyester manufacturing plant based in Darlington, SC. The settlement resolves litigation brought by the Alliance in connection with a new permit to be issued by the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services. The Alliance had challenged the amount of the chemical 1,4-dioxane that the new permit would have allowed Fiber to discharge into Black Creek, a tributary of the Pee Dee River.

Under the settlement, Fiber has agreed to lower the maximum amount of 1,4-dioxane that can be discharged and has pledged to donate $25,000 to the Pee Dee Land Trust to preserve properties around Black Creek, among other commitments.

Over the last several years, the Fiber plant on the banks of Black Creek has operated intermittently. According to Fiber, the plant has operated technology to treat for 1,4-dioxane in its process effluent since 1994, and in the settlement agreement, Fiber has agreed, in accordance with its terms, to continue to use this technology on its process effluent when the plant restarts operations.

“We are pleased with this settlement for the protection of water quality for Black Creek, the Great Pee Dee River, and the towns that draw their drinking water downstream,” said Debra Buffkin, Executive Director of the Winyah Rivers Alliance.