Fairfield I-77 Quarry

Luck Stone Corporation has requested environmental permits from DHEC to mine granite at a site located in the vicinity of the intersection of S.C. Highway 34 and Simpson Circle in Fairfield County, approximately 3.5 miles west of Ridgeway, South Carolina (TMS #166-00-00-028-000, 166-00-00-018-000, and 166-00-00-030-000).  A proposed reclamation plan to restore the site to lake/pond, grassland, and commercial has been submitted with the application. 

Mining 

Luck Stone Corporation has requested environmental permits from DHEC to mine granite at a site located in the vicinity of the intersection of S.C. Highway 34 and Simpson Circle in Fairfield County, approximately 3.5 miles west of Ridgeway, South Carolina (TMS #166-00-00-028-000, 166-00-00-018-000, and 166-00-00-030-000).  A proposed reclamation plan to restore the site to lake/pond, grassland, and commercial has been submitted with the application.  

After careful consideration of all comments and information received from concerned citizens and local, state, and federal agencies, DHEC has determined that the Fairfield I-77 Quarry can comply with the South Carolina Mining Act and applicable air, water, and mining regulations.  Having made this determination, and being in receipt of the required financial assurance, DHEC has approved the mine application and is issuing Mine Operating Permit I-002329 for the Fairfield I-77 Quarry.  The final mine permit, maps, reclamation plan, and a summary response to comments are available below.  Documents related to issuance of the air and water permits are also available below.  

DHEC appreciates the interest, engagement, and comments received from all our stakeholders during the environmental permitting process for the Fairfield I-77 Quarry. 

The BLWM placed the mine operating permit application on public notice and began accepting public comments in April 2021. The BLWM completed review of all information and public comments received in writing, as well as those shared during the DHEC public hearing held on August 05, 2021. Additional information provided by the applicant was also reviewed.   

Questions about the mine operating permit and the BLWM’s permitting process may be directed to:

Jeremy Eddy, Project Manager  
DHEC Bureau of Land and Waste Management  
2600 Bull Street 
Columbia, SC 29201  
Email: eddyje@dhec.sc.gov  

Air Quality 

An air quality construction permit is an air permit required for any person who plans to construct, alter, or add to a source of air pollution, including the installation of any air pollution control device. The construction permit must be issued before any construction-related activities occur at the site. The construction permit allows for installation, modification, and start of operation of equipment. 

On April 8, 2021, DHEC's Bureau of Air Quality (BAQ) received an application for an air quality construction permit for the proposed Fairfield I-77 Quarry. The BAQ placed the draft air quality construction permit on public notice from July 1, 2021 through August 20, 2021. The application used in the BAQ’s permitting process is available below: 

On January 14, 2022, the BAQ issued a Department Decision, which includes construction permit 1000-0047-CA, the statement of basis for 1000-0047-CA, and the response to comments.

Water Quality 

DHEC issues National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits to minimize environmental impacts from stormwater runoff and other water discharges that may occur during construction and operation of a facility.  

In conjunction with the application for the individual mining permit under review in the Mining and Reclamation Section, the applicant is also required to obtain coverage under the NPDES General Permit SCG730000 for the Fairfield Quarry.  This permit coverage addresses the water quality issues for both stormwater and wastewater that would be discharged through the outfalls from this quarry.     

The Bureau of Water determined that the Fairfield I-77 Quarry meets the requirements for new coverage under its NPDES General Permit and granted this coverage on January 14, 2022

Questions about the NPDES permit and the BOW’s permitting process may be directed to:  

Brett Caswell  
Phone: (803) 898-4396  
Email: caswelbm@dhec.sc.gov  

Community Engagement

Virtual Public Meeting 

DHEC held a Public Meeting to discuss the proposed Fairfield I-77 Quarry on July 22, 2021 at 6:30 pm. The presentation and a recording of the hearing are available below:

Virtual Public Hearing 

DHEC held a Public Hearing about the proposed Fairfield I-77 Quarry on August 5, 2021 at 6:30 pm. 

Information from the public hearing is available below:  

Local DHEC Contacts 

To speak with local DHEC staff, please contact Chris Corley in our Columbia Area Environmental Affairs Office at (803) 896-0620.  

For information on current or previous sites of public interest, visit DHEC's Environmental Sites of Interest webpage.