Luck Stone Corporation - Saluda Quarry

Luck Stone Corporation has applied for environmental permits from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) to mine granite at a site located on Double Bridges Road (near the intersection with Heather Lane) in Saluda County. This site is referred to as the Saluda Quarry. The site is approximately five (5) miles northwest of Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina (TMS #174-00-006). A proposed reclamation plan to restore the site to grassland and a lake/pond was submitted with the application.  

After careful consideration of all comments and applicable information, DHEC approved and issued environmental permits for the Saluda Quarry on April 5, 2024. Additional information and documents related to the issuance of the mine permit, air construction permit, and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permit coverage is available below. 

DHEC appreciates the interest, engagement, and comments received from all stakeholders throughout our environmental permitting process for the Saluda Quarry.

This webpage was developed by DHEC as a community resource and although no longer updated, will remain active for those who wish to learn more about DHEC’s permitting process for the Saluda Quarry. Please bring this webpage to the attention of others you know who may be interested.

Mining

DHEC’s Bureau of Land and Waste Management (BLWM) received an application for a mine operating permit for the proposed Saluda Quarry on August 17, 2023. The BLWM provided public notice of the application in the Saluda Standard Sentinel newspaper and began accepting comments on October 26, 2023. The public notice was mailed to adjacent landowners, landowners within a half-mile of the proposed blasting operations, local and state government/regulatory agencies, and other interested parties. The public notice was also posted on DHEC’s ePermitting webpage portal. DHEC held a public meeting and public hearing on November 30, 2023, for comments to be heard by DHEC staff and recorded by a court reporter. Additional information on these events is available below. Comments on the mine permit application were accepted through December 15, 2023.

The mine permit application, reclamation plan, maps, hydrogeological assessment report, groundwater monitoring plan, and other documents used in the BLWM permitting process are available below. 

DHEC's Final Mine Operating Permit Decision

After careful review and consideration of all comments and information received from concerned citizens and local, state, and federal agencies, along with supplemental information provided by the applicant, DHEC determined that the Saluda Quarry can comply with the South Carolina Mining Act and applicable mining regulations. Having made this determination and being in receipt of the required reclamation bond of $810,831.00, DHEC approved the mine application and issued Mine Operating Permit I-002404 for the Saluda Quarry on April 5, 2024. The final mine permit, maps, reclamation plan, and groundwater monitoring plan are available in the approved permit package below. 

Questions about the Saluda Quarry and the BLWM’s mine permitting process may be directed to:

Sarah Harris
Phone: (803) 898-3887
Email: harrissl@dhec.sc.gov

Air Quality

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

On August 22, 2023, Luck Stone applied to DHEC’s Bureau of Air Quality (BAQ) for an air quality construction permit for the proposed Saluda Quarry. BAQ completed a technical review of the application that included reviewing emission calculations, performing a regulatory review, conducting an ambient air quality analysis, and verifying that the proposed project could meet all applicable air quality regulations if constructed and operated as proposed in the air permit application. Once the technical review was completed, a draft air construction permit containing all applicable emission limitations and requirements was placed on public notice on October 26, 2023. BAQ accepted comments on the draft air construction permit through December 15, 2023. 

The public notice, draft construction permit, draft statement of basis, and permit application used in the BAQ permitting process are available below. 

DHEC's Final Air Construction Permit Decision

On April 5, 2024, the BAQ issued a Department Decision to approve an air quality permit to construct and operate a granite quarry and processing plant for the Saluda Quarry. This decision was made after consideration and complete review of the permit application, applicable state and federal air quality regulations, comments made at the public hearing held on November 30, 2023, all comments received within the required time frame, the public hearing transcript, and all other pertinent information. All comments received were reviewed for technical merit and have been included in DHEC’s permanent record. 

DHEC’s final air construction permit decision documents are available below:

Questions about the draft air permit and the BAQ’s permitting process may be directed to:

Mareesa Singleton
Phone: (803) 898-4113
Email: singlemj@dhec.sc.gov

Water Quality

DHEC’s Bureau of Water (BOW) 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.

Coverage under NPDES General Permit SCG73000 “Discharges Associated with Nonmetal Mineral Mining Facilities” is required for the Saluda Quarry in conjunction with a mine operating permit. This general permit coverage addresses water quality issues for both stormwater and wastewater discharged from the site. This permit also requires the installation of Best Management Practices for sediment and erosion control, reporting, and inspections to ensure the operator maintains compliance.

On September 21, 2023, the BOW received a Notice of Intent (NOI) from Luck Stone Corporation requesting coverage under existing NPDES General Permit SCG73000 for the proposed Saluda Quarry. The Saluda Quarry was granted coverage under the NPDES general permit on April 5, 2024.

Documents related to the BOW’s NPDES permitting process for the proposed Saluda Quarry are available below:

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

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

Joint Public Meeting and Public Hearing

DHEC’s Bureau of Land and Waste Management and Bureau of Air Quality held a joint public hearing on November 30, 2023, at 7:00 PM, to accept oral and written comments on the mine permit application and draft air permit. A joint public meeting was held from 6:00 PM until 7:00 PM prior to the public hearing. These events were held at The Venue at West Creek located at 1120 Plantation Lane in Batesburg-Leesville. 

The public meeting was an opportunity for participants to have an informal discussion with DHEC staff about the proposed mine and environmental permitting process prior to giving comments at the public hearing. The meeting included a DHEC presentation followed by a time to ask questions. A well survey form was made available to residents to record baseline information with DHEC about private drinking water wells should an assessment of any potential impacts from the mine operation be needed in the future.

The public hearing provided a formal opportunity for participants to make oral comments that were heard by DHEC staff and recorded by a court reporter. There were no questions and answers during the public hearing.  

DHEC’s presentation from the public meeting and official transcript of the public hearing are available below: 

Impact of Public Comments in DHEC’s Permitting Process 

DHEC values all comments made during the public comment period. Local community members provide a unique perspective and are valuable resources in addressing community concerns in the permitting process.  Becoming better informed is an important first step in providing effective public comments that may influence specific terms and conditions that must be followed by the owner/operator if a permit is issued.

Effective comments are those that provide accurate, specific details about the site of a proposed project, inaccuracies in the permit application, errors in DHEC’s technical review or draft permit, and any other information demonstrating that a proposed project cannot operate in compliance with environmental regulations.   

It is important to know that DHEC cannot make a permit decision based on a vote or how many comments are received. There are also some common issues/comments related to mining operations that DHEC does not have the regulatory or legal authority to consider when making a permit decision, for example:   

  • Truck traffic, access to public roads, weight limits, and traffic patterns are governed by the South Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT) and the local county. 
  • Industrial development and operating hours are governed by the local county through zoning and land use planning. 

Beginning a conversation early about these and other quality of life issues is an effective way for communities to work together with local government officials, their legislative delegation, mining representatives, and other interested parties to find solutions and reach common goals. 

What to Expect After the Public Comment Period Closes 

Once the public comment period closes, DHEC reviews and considers all comments received and determines if any modifications should be made to the mine permit application or draft air permit. Additional information may also be requested from the applicant, if needed. DHEC then decides to approve or deny the mine operating permit and air construction permit. 

Once final decisions are made, DHEC provides notification to everyone on our mailing list, to all who attended the public meeting/hearing (provided legible contact information was given) and to those who provided written comments during the public comment period. The final permit decisions are also posted on our webpage. Summary responses to all comments received are also made available.

Filing a Request for Final Review

DHEC’s decision(s) become final fifteen (15) calendar days after notice of the decision(s) has been mailed to the applicant, permittee, licensee, and affected persons who have requested in writing to be notified, unless a written request for final review accompanied by a filing fee in the amount of $100 is filed with DHEC by the applicant, permittee, licensee or affected person.

Additional information on requesting a final review by DHEC’s Board can be found in DHEC’s Guide to Board Review. 

Stay Connected - Community Engagement 

DHEC is committed to providing meaningful opportunities to hear the questions and concerns of community members and share information on our permitting processes. DHEC offers multiple ways to connect with our staff during the permitting process and beyond, including:

  • Calling or connecting with DHEC staff to discuss the Saluda Quarry one-on-one.
  • Submitting a written comment or question.
  • Receiving additional information by email or mail.
  • Visiting this webpage for information.
  • Staying informed about local planning and zoning decisions affecting your community.

Additionally, we hope the following information will provide a better understanding of how to be involved in DHEC’s decision-making process:

For more information on current or previous sites of public interest, visit DHEC’s Environmental Sites, Projects & Permit of Interest webpage. 

DHEC encourages residents to ask questions and share information with us. Staying engaged in our process helps us to learn more about your community. 

Questions about community engagement in DHEC’s permitting process may be directed to:

Donna Moye
Phone: (803) 898-1382
Email: moyedd@dhec.sc.gov

Local DHEC Contacts 

To speak with local DHEC staff about any environmental issue or concern in the Saluda area, please contact our Central Midlands Environmental Affairs Office in Columbia at (803) 896-0620.