How To Submit A Public Comment: Effingham Pellets

Why submit a public comment?

Effingham Pellets, LLC has applied to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) for an air permit to allow production on a new proposed facility near Effingham in Florence County, SC. The production of these pellets will release hazardous pollutants into the air, endangering the health of the Florence County community members and contribute immensely to climate change that will impact vulnerable populations around the world.

● This facility would produce upwards of 43,800 metric tons of pellets per year.

● This means 1051 acres of our forests would be cut down every year.

● This process would produce an estimated 94,343 tons of CO2e emissions annually, the equivalent of an additional 18,171 cars on the road each year.

Delivering a spoken comment at the Public Hearing is one of the best ways to convince DHEC to deny this permit. In addition to delivering a spoken public comment, be sure to send your comment in writing as well, especially if you can’t make it to give a spoken comment. Ask two of your friends/neighbors/family members to prepare comments as well! If you have any questions, email woodpelleteffects@gmail.com

When and how

Public comment period:

● When: Monday, May 17th through Thursday, July 1st at 5 pm

● How: Send your comment to AirPNComments@dhec.sc.gov.

See sample below.

Virtual public hearing date/time/location:

● When: 6:30 PM Thursday, June 17th at 6:30 PM Public Meeting

● Where: Virtually—Register here to make a public comment by June 16th at 4:00.

● How to comment at the virtual public hearing?

1. Write your comment! Make it personal, include several of the key points, and feel free to use language from the sample public comment below.
2. Practice reading the public comment out loud, so you are comfortable to read it at the Public Hearing. Change any words that are difficult to say, or any sentences that sound awkward.

3. You will have 3 minutes to deliver your public comment. This is approximately 300 words.

Sample public comment

Feel free to use this sample statement below or write your own! See other sample public comments here. You can submit your statement by visiting our one-click action page.

Subject Line: Deny Air Permit and Stop Pellet Mill Project in Florence County

Hello,

I am (Your Name_____) and I am a resident of South Carolina (if applicable, and if you’re from

Florence County or nearby, include that too!).

I am writing to urge SC DHEC to deny any expansion of the wood pellet industry in South Carolina and to immediately address the environmental justice implications of the proposal in Effingham, South Carolina. I urge DHEC to address the impacts that this proposed facility would have on the climate, on South Carolina forests, on biodiversity, and on the health and well-being of residents. I call on DHEC to:

● Deny Effingham Pellets LLC’s air permit application to begin production in its proposed mill.

● Complete a full Environmental Justice Report.

This proposed project will release particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) into the surrounding region. The communities of Effingham and Florence County have already been disproportionately impacted by economic hardship and the COVID-19 pandemic, and they are rallying their voices against this project. South Carolina residents would be subsidizing this wood pellet facility, all the while it brings only 10 jobs to our local economy, if that, and does not contribute to our economy otherwise, as we know there is not a market for wood pellets in the United States. The members of the Effingham community deserve to have their voices heard. A new wood pellet mill will further degrade our climate, ecosystem, and the health of our people. Denying this permit is essential to protect the health and well-being of all South Carolinians now and in the future.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this permit. (Your Name__________)

Other talking points

Effingham Pellets LLC is not facility that we need in our community and would go against the mission of the department to protect public health and serve the people. Here are several reasons why:

● Effingham Pellets LLC would destroy trees and worsen flooding.

● Trees are God’s first natural defense against flooding.

● These facilities pollute our air!

● There is no market for wood pellets in the US!

● The Effingham community has 11,000 people. This facility would create 10 jobs and likely less than that for local residents.

● Trees clean our air and water.

● South Carolina residents are subsidizing this wood pellet facility, all the while it brings only 10 jobs to our local economy, if that, and does not contribute to our economy otherwise.

● Effingham Pellets LLC claims that Charles Ingram, a partial owner, has good relationships in Effingham. This is not true!

● The company expects that the operation of the pellet plant will reduce truck traffic in the neighboring area. We know from many other communities in the southeast that the opposite is true!

● View more talking points on the Dogwood public comment.

More resources

● To learn more about the wood pellet industry and this air permit application, watch our community meeting

● For flyers, posters, and other resources follow us at @newalphacdc and @TheWhitneyMSlaterFoundationCommunity on Facebook and Twitter.

● An article on our May 2 community rally around the Florence County Council May meeting: “Group protests wood pellet plant coming to Florence County”

● A Letter to the Editor in the Community Times and SC Now.