The remnants of the Galey & Lord textile mill sit in abandoned disrepair, but the true crisis lies within the surrounding 10,000 acres of farmland now deemed unsafe due to toxic contamination. With testing revealing dangerous levels of PFAS, South Carolina aims to initiate a federal Superfund cleanup, marking a significant step in addressing hidden agricultural pollution.
South Carolina’s Toxic Legacy: 10,000 Acres of Contaminated Farmland Targeted for Superfund Designation
South Carolina’s Toxic Legacy: 10,000 Acres of Contaminated Farmland Targeted for Superfund Designation
Years of using sewage sludge from a now-abandoned textile mill as fertilizer has left South Carolina's farmland laced with harmful "forever chemicals," sparking calls for an unprecedented Superfund cleanup effort.
The abandoned Galey & Lord textile mill in Society Hill, S.C., now stands as a dismal reminder of its past, largely reduced to scrap metal and rust. The real concern, however, extends beyond the dilapidated structures to the 10,000 acres of farmland that encircle it, completely polluted with hazardous “forever chemicals.” South Carolina's environmental officials assert that this farmland is prime candidates for a rare federal Superfund cleanup, a proposal long overdue.
Once the renowned “King of Khaki,” Galey & Lord contributed significantly to the American textile industry, but its legacy became marred when it began distributing sewage sludge from its wastewater lagoons to local farmers as a fertilizer. Unbeknownst to many, including the farmers who applied it, this sludge was laced with alarming levels of PFAS — chemicals associated with various health issues, including cancer. Recent testing has indicated severe contamination on the agricultural lands where this sludge was once spread.
If approved, this would mark a pivotal first instance of farmland being classified as a Superfund site due to toxic contamination from sewage sludge, highlighting a critical intersection between agricultural practices and environmental health. The Galey & Lord mill was itself designated a Superfund site three years ago, signaling a growing recognition of the need for remediation efforts.
“I was told it was good for the crops,” recalled Robert O'Neal, a dedicated farmer whose fields received the sludge during the late 1990s. The ongoing situation has ignited a community-wide alarm and prompted discussions about the long-term implications of such contamination on health and agriculture within South Carolina.
