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Residents raise safety concerns about Silfab operations near Fort Mill schools during public comment
Summary
At the York County Council meeting, members of the public expressed concerns about Silfab Solar’s planned use and storage of silane, a pyrophoric gas, citing proximity to new schools and ongoing litigation; the council noted the issue is before a judge.
During the public forum at the March 3 York County Council meeting, residents raised safety concerns about Silfab Solar’s planned operations, specifically the planned on-site storage and use of silane. Vladimir Drobot, who identified his Fort Mill address in public comment, described silane as a pyrophoric gas and said a proposed on-site inventory would total about 27,000 pounds (roughly 12 tons). He warned of ignition and toxic-plume hazards and cited health effects and a lethal dispersion radius in his remarks.
Council chair and county staff both noted the matter is subject to pending litigation and that a judge is handling the dispute. Council reminded speakers that while public comment is permitted, legal determinations are for the courts. Later in the meeting, a Fort Mill resident urged council to postpone consideration of new school fees until safety and enrollment impacts from Silfab-related community concerns are resolved; the resident said families had moved away and enrollment projections were being affected. Council members did not take action on Silfab at the meeting and reiterated that the county is limited where legal proceedings are underway.
Background: The public speaker described silane hazards and cited NIH hazard summaries; council and staff said the Silfab matter is before a judge and legal counsel will handle related matters. No county action, vote or staff directive related to Silfab was recorded on the meeting agenda for March 3.
