In brief
The Galey & Lord textile mill in Society Hill, SC, formerly gave away sewage sludge as fertilizer but has left nearly 10,000 acres of farmland contaminated with harmful PFAS chemicals, prompting a call for federal cleanup.
The abandoned Galey & Lord textile mill in Society Hill, South Carolina, is a somber reminder of environmental neglect. Its deteriorated structures and pollution-clogged waterways pose an immediate threat to the surrounding area, particularly to the nearly 10,000 acres of farmland believed to be contaminated with hazardous substances known as "forever chemicals." This situation has sparked calls from state officials for the land to be declared a Superfund cleanup site, an unprecedented step for agricultural land.Once celebrated as a key player in the cotton twill industry, Galey & Lord operated by treating wastewater and giving the resulting sludge to local farmers as fertilizer. What was once considered a boon for crop production has turned ominous as testing reveals alarming levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the soil and crops. PFAS are linked to severe health risks, including cancer.Local farmer Robert O’Neal recalls applying the sludge to his fields in the 1990s, trusting its effectiveness without knowledge of its harmful components. As investigations continue into the far-reaching impact of this contaminated soil, South Carolina officials emphasize that this case will be the first time farmland contamination via sewage sludge is addressed under the Superfund program. The abandoned mill itself was designated as a Superfund site three years ago, highlighting the dire environmental legacy of the site.
