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Public commenter urges independent environmental review after concerns raised about industrial solar manufacturing near district schools
Summary
A Fort Mill parent warned the school board about potential health risks tied to industrial solar cell manufacturing proposed near school properties; district staff described outreach to Emory's PEHSU, EPA and private environmental firms and said it is seeking third-party assessments and testing plans.
Bridal McCluskey, a Fort Mill resident who provided her address during public comment, told the board she is "concerned" about health risks for students and staff near proposed heavy industrial solar cell manufacturing and urged an independent, third-party environmental analysis.
"Please stop ignoring them," McCluskey said, urging the district to review university studies and take into account possible short- and long-term health impacts on children, including respiratory illnesses and developmental concerns.
District staff told the board they have followed up. Joe Burke said staff contacted the Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit at Emory University (PEHSU) and sought its recommendations; PEHSU provided suggested consultants and the district has reached out to an EPA regional contact and multiple environmental firms for consultations. "They did eventually provide me some recommendations on some people to contact," Burke said, and the district has requested consultations with a Spartanburg-based environmental testing company and larger national firms.
Burke described the early-stage work as twofold: (1) confirm whether existing air-quality permit modeling aligns with on-site considerations and (2) develop a testing plan, if the district chooses to proceed. He said some firms identified are better suited for post-opening, ongoing monitoring while others could assist with preliminary assessments and testing schedules. Burke cautioned that cost estimates depend on the frequency and scope of testing and that the district is still awaiting firm proposals and EPA guidance.
Board members and staff acknowledged the public concern and asked for clearer, timely updates. One board member requested a brief public statement or web update summarizing the district's outreach and next steps so community members know their concerns have been logged and action is underway.
What happened next: staff said it will continue to pursue recommended consultants, request written scopes and cost estimates, and provide updates to the board and public. No third-party contract or testing plan had been finalized in the portion of the meeting recorded in the transcript.
The board did not take a formal vote on the matter during the meeting excerpt.
