Dozens of Fort Mill residents urge York County to revoke Silfab permits; council reviews materials, authorizes press release

Dozens of residents from Fort Mill and nearby neighborhoods told York County Council on May 19 that Silfab Solar’s Fort Mill operations amount to heavy industrial chemical manufacturing and asked the county to revoke construction and site permits issued to the company.

Speakers described large volumes of hazardous materials, claimed onsite wastewater treatment and water use at about 1,000,000 gallons per day, and said independent reviewers including the USC Arnold School of Public Health had expanded worst-case dispersion scenarios for several chemicals. “Light industrial does not include hazardous material treatment and storage facilities,” resident Lana Vivant said. “The BZA concluded there was an administrative error and zoning code paragraph 155.1239 states a permit or approval may be revoked at any time prior to completion.”

Why it matters: Commenters said the facility sits adjacent to Flint Hill Elementary and Flint Hill Middle School and to surrounding neighborhoods, and that potential accidental releases could affect schools, daycares and senior facilities. Several…