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Committee asks staff to research county ordinance requiring local notification of large sewage spills
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Summary
Members asked staff to collect neighboring counties'ordinances and review state requirements after a cited Martin Creek 25,000-gallon spill; a staff follow-up and an agenda item were requested for next month.
A committee member flagged a recent case he said involved a 25,000-gallon sewage spill on Martin Creek and said local agencies were not notified; he proposed the county consider a local ordinance requiring companies and agencies to notify hazmat or the fire department when a spill occurs. Another member cited state guidance that utilities must publicly notify for significant spills of 5,000 gallons or more and read a state-code reference ("Section 48 1 95"), which requires public notice within 24 hours.
Why it matters: The committee framed the proposal as a way to ensure faster local response to protect property and streams and said local notification (beyond the state's threshold-driven public notice) could allow hazmat or fire staff to deploy booms and other protective measures sooner.
What the committee requested: The county fire chief offered to contact Anderson and Pickens counties and other neighbors to obtain any sample ordinances and bring them back for counsel review. The chair asked Miss Madison to add a follow-up item to the next agenda for staff findings.
Next steps: Staff will research existing county ordinances, compile examples for counsel, and present recommendations at the next meeting; the committee did not adopt an ordinance at this session.
