Romney Street Landfill

1. Public Information Meeting March 9, 2006 Romney Street Landfill

2. Craig Dukes Public Participation Coordinator Brownfields Voluntary Cleanup Program Bureau of Land and Waste Management Columbia TOLL FREE TELEPHONE 866-576-3432

3. Meeting Agenda Overview of Site & Voluntary Cleanup Contract Remarks by Ginn Development Company, LLC Robert F. Masters, Executive Vice President Public Questions & Comments

4. Property is a closed landfill There is “Environmental Contamination” Why This Meeting?

5. Why This Meeting? (cont.) When anyone buys contaminated Property… They become responsible for the contamination Including contamination that occurred years ago A buyer can get a release from liability in exchange for doing environmental work under DHEC’s Voluntary Cleanup Program

6. Liability release comes thru a contract  with DHEC Contracts negotiated by DHECstaff to get maximum benefit for State while allowing reasonable reuse of site Ginn Company has entered into a contract to do work under DHEC oversight Why This Meeting? (cont.)

7. Why This Meeting? (cont.) The Ginn Company has signed their portion of the contract The contract is available for public comment for 30 days

8. Need to make surethat we are not overlooking something Why This Meeting? (cont.)

9. Tonight’s meeting will focus on this contract Decisions about zoning, buildings, marinas, etc., are beyond the scope of the contract Other agencies City of Charleston Meeting Focus

10. Romney Landfill History 1920’s Industrial Use Humble Oil Terminal 1940’s Dredge Spoil Site 1976-1989 Charleston County Landfill . Shredded Garbage from around the county Both Household and Industrial Wastes 1995 “Closed Out” Engineered, packed soil cover Monitoring wells installed and tested periodically

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13. Holston Landfill Charleston County landfill 1973-1984 Before 1973, same history as Romney Soil cover not required when closed Voluntary Cleanup Contract in 2003 Joe Griffith Inc., wanted to build mixed-use residential & commercial buildings Ginn Company bought Holston Landfill in June 2005 will meet remaining terms of the 2003 contract

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17. Structure on the Romney landfill is part of old oil terminal from the 1920’s

18. What’s in the Works? Plans are still on the drawing board Combined Holston + Romney Landfill Area = 186 Acres Ginn Company wants to build golf course, hotel w/ shops, & boat marina Possibility of townhouses, condos, etc.

19. Future of the Site?

20. “Draft” plans

21. DHEC’s Role No matter what occurs, DHEC has two major functions: Protect Human Health on-site and in the surrounding community Protect the Environment Under the contract, Ginn Company will do environmental testing of soil, groundwater, & sediment DHEC will oversee all work

22. DHEC’s Role (cont.) Testing done so far on the landfills… shows no contamination moving off of the properties With appropriate controls, landfills will not have an environmental impact on off-site properties However, building on the landfills will require extra controls to protect people living and working on those properties

23. Potential Development Problem Old Landfills produce landfill gas Gases from rotting organic material Explosive if accumulates Gases are vented from the landfill so it can’t build up Venting system willchange with development

24. Landfill Gases Most of landfill gas is Methane Methane is same as the Natural Gas piped to homes for heating & cooking also commonly produced by Buildings on top of landfills can trap the gases if not properly designed.

25. Potential Development Issues Ginn Company will install pipes to collect landfill gases from around landfills May be enough gas for an energy source Buildings will be designed so the landfill gases cannot collect in them Under the Contract, DHEC will review all building foundation plans to ensure safety Development should not cause the landfill gases to move to Bridgeview Apartments or other areas

26. Potential Development Issues (cont.) Ginn Company cannot excavate into the engineered soil cap of the landfill In order to install the gas collection system and utilities, the ground level will have to be raised 2-3 feet with clean fill dirt Pilings will be driven through the landfill to support any buildings

27. Contract Process Ginn Company submitted assurances to DHEC that they would operate the property with controls to minimize contamination Ginn Company will lose the protections of the contract if they fail to do so Site will be safe for its intended use

28. Contract Process (cont.) Once the Ginn Company meets all conditions of the contract, DHEC releases them from liability for any other levels of pre-existing contamination DHEC retains right to go after other parties for additional work if necessary

29. Purchaser’s Benefits from contract Under State Law, the Ginn Company cannot be sued for pre-existing contamination if contamination has spread off of the property However, legal action may be still pursued against any former owners or operators

30. Contract Implementation If no compelling reason arises, DHEC will sign contract with the Ginn Company after March 21 The Ginn Company will submit a work plan to DHEC for approval and monthly reports of progress, lab findings, etc.

31. Contract Implementation Once the Ginn Company meets the conditions of the contract, DHEC will issue a “Certificate of Completion” releasing them of liability for  pre-existing contamination Future Public meetings may be conducted as needed 

32. Remarks by Robert F. Masters,Executive Vice PresidentGinn Development Company, LLC

33. Questions & Comments Craig Dukes BLWM – SCDHEC 2600 Bull Street Columbia SC 29201 dukescv@dhec.sc.gov TOLL FREE TELEPHONE 866-576-3432