Clapper, Patti, Schweizer and Mason

The property of the former Chester County textile mill in South Carolina has been one of the national sites known for asbestos contamination and exposure.  Asbestos is a known carcinogen and poses an environmental and human health risk.  Exposure to asbestos causes serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.

Asbestos was widely used in textile mills because of its amazing ability to insulate and resist heat and chemical erosion.  The abandoned mill in Chester County was originally built close to 120 years ago, and then purchased by Larry Ramsey, who hopes to demolish the buildings, clear the land, and resell the property.

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) have issued several orders for the company hired to perform the demolition, PJW Enterprises, to stop all activity until proper removal of asbestos is ensured.  So far, those warnings have been ignored, and demolition work continues in violation of local ordinances and federal environmental regulations.

DHEC inspectors have discovered debris that is clearly over the 1% asbestos concentration deemed safe by environmental standards, and yet the demolition continues without proper procedures and protection.  Such actions could cause workers and anyone in the vicinity to be exposed to asbestos, creating a high risk of developing mesothelioma and cancer years later.

The owner, Ramsey, states that he filed for the required permits, but has been delayed in receiving them.  PJW continued to knock down buildings, which are known to have been constructed with asbestos containing materials, despite prior warnings and fines.

DHEC is now in the process of determining what type of enforcement action needs to be taken.  Unfortunately, no amount of money, fines or retroactive citations will undo any exposure, and risk of future death, that may have already occurred.