Clemson: SCE&G applied most herbicides properly in Sheldon

Herbicide to keep trees and brush away from overhead power lines in the Sheldon area was applied properly by a S.C. Electric & Gas contractor in all but one instance, according to an investigation released Thursday.

Five Sheldon residents filed complaints that their gardens, farms, trees and plants died after Natur Chem of Lexington applied chemicals to utility rights-of-way on their property.

Clemson University's Department of Pesticide Regulation -- the state's licensing agency for businesses applying pesticide and herbicide treatments -- began investigating the issue mid-June.

The residents worry about the long-term effects of the chemicals and are upset the utility did not notify them before applying the treatment. Clemson's investigation found that Natur Chem properly applied two herbicides onproperties owned by John Smith, Woody Collins, Tracie Korol and Laurel Goodman.

Smith disagrees with the findings and said some of his plants and organic fruit trees are well outside the right-of-way, yet were still damaged.

"They sprayed directly over the citrus farm," he said. "Where (Clemson) came up with this stuff, I don't have a clue."

Smith said he plans to hire an independent surveyor to measure the power line easements in relation to plants damaged on his property.

Clemson determined herbicide application on a fifth property, owned by Nancy Prentice, failed to stay within 15 feet on either side of power lines.

There, the herbicides were applied 21 feet outside the utility's right-of-way and destroyed some of Prentice's sweet gum trees. That's in violation of the South Carolina Pesticide Control Act, according to Clemson's findings.

The herbicide product labels, approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, specifically instruct applicators not to use them on "desirable plants" because "very small quantities ... can severely damage or destroy crops, plants or other planted areas that were not intended for treatment."

Jim Wright, Clemson's regulatory supervisor, said the Prentice case is still under review.

"We are likely going to take some enforcement action as a result of this incident," he said. That could take up to two weeks.

Wright said Clemson does not have the authority to require the utility or the contractor to reimburse the property owner for damaged trees and plants. However, Clemson can penalize violators by issuing a written reprimand, a fine or suspend or revoke the company's license, Wright said.

SCE&G spokesman Scott Grigg said the investigation's results are what the company was expecting and any fines would be paid by Natur Chem. Natur Chem officials could not be reached for comment.

"We found out no vegetable gardens were killed and nobody's organic farm was destroyed," Grigg said. "So, it's pretty much what we had said all along."

The utility plans to meet with Prentice today, said David Tempel Jr., the utility's district manager.

"We're just going to talk to her and discuss the finding of the report with her," Tempel said.

Prentice said she doesn't expect reimbursement for the lost trees or for the utility to replant what was damaged.

"I'm not asking anything from them other than to quit spraying these chemicals, and we'd like to have the option of them not coming back on our property," she said.

She and other residents have said they would like to maintain the rights-of-way themselves.

"As long as they maintain the right-of-way, we shouldn't have a need to spray," Tempel said, adding that SCE&G is working on a new notification system to inform residents of tree-trimming or spraying.

At a July 27 meeting, Beaufort County Council asked the utility to stop spraying herbicides in Sheldon until several questions are answered, including the toxicity of the chemicals used.

Tempel said the Sheldon spraying has been completed, at least for the next five years. He plans to work with the county to answer any questions.

Beaufort County administrator Gary Kubic said he will schedule a meeting in the next two weeks to discuss the investigation with Clemson, the residents, the utility and county and public health officials.

Kubic said he wants to know how the herbicides can affect human health and the environment.