Silfab Solar plant sees second chemical spill in a week, facility ordered to cease operations
Environmental officials in the US state of South Carolina ordered the Silfab Solar facility in Fort Mill to immediately cease all operations on Thursday 5 March after a second chemical spill in one week.
The week's second spill occurred shortly before 08:30 as York County posted a message to its Facebook page describing a leak of hydrofluoric acid, according to the local outlet The Charlotte Observer.
The message from York County said that they had "been assured the hydrofluoric acid is being contained completely onsite and through methods in place to handle inadvertent releases".
"The leak is within designed containment and does not pose a health risk," York County said, emphasising that there was no risk to public health and safety.
The Silfab Solar facility was subsequently ordered to suspend all operations by the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services, "pending completion of an investigation into the facility's risk management programme by the Department and US Environmental Protection Agency", a decision that was "wholeheartedly" endorsed and applauded by York County.
"There are glaring deficiencies with Silfab’s notification process, which have resulted in delayed notification to emergency officials, York County and other regulatory agencies," York County said in a statement. "This is unacceptable and causes serious and legitimate concerns. We are grateful to the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services for directing Silfab to incorporate stringent communication requirements moving forward."
Silfab were ordered to consent to the order, which contained a number of other stipulations, by 16:00 on Thursday or face "further action" from the department.
Hydrofluoric acid is a chemical that corrodes metal and releases flammable hydrogen, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It reacts with water or steam to create toxic fumes and, in addition to dangers of explosion, inhalation or skin exposure, can cause symptoms from mild discomfort to death.
Potassium hydroxide spill only two days before
The chemical spill at Silfab Solar on Thursday came only two days after another spill that had already prompted widespread calls for a state investigation into the site at Fort Mill.
In a post on Facebook clarifying the incident, York County said that the incident occurred at approximately 09:45 on Tuesday. Emergency responders and a York County hazardous material team were on scene within three minutes, and confirmed that the incident posed no danger to the public, including to the nearby elementary school.
According to Yahoo News, Tuesday's spill reignited long-standing concerns from community members who argue the facility is operating as a heavy industrial site in an area zoned for light industrial use.
York County council will host a special meeting on Friday, 6 March at 12:00 related to Silfab Solar. The agenda can be viewed here.
