Clemson still investigating utility's use of herbicides near Sheldon

It's been more than a month since Clemson University's Department of Pesticide Regulation began investigating whether a utility's effort to kill trees and brush beneath its power lines in the Sheldon area followed state and federal laws.

John Smith, Tracie Korol, Woody Collins and other residents say their gardens, trees and plants died after S.C. Electric & Gas contracted NaturChem of Lexington in early June to spray herbicides to keep vegetation from interfering with utility lines.

Clemsonis the licensing agency for businesses applying pesticide and herbicide treatments.

Residents worry about the long-term effects of the chemicals and are upset the utility did not notify them before applying them.

"Personally I would like to have notification that some kind of maintenance will be done on my land and have a window of two to three weeks to handle it myself," Korol said. "I personally am disdainful they are spraying unknown chemicals in a fragile ecosystem. We still don't know if it is in our wells. ... We're not a bunch of crazy people, we just want to have the courtesy of knowing what's going on, on our own land."

Several residents will speak to the Beaufort County Council at its Monday meeting.

County administrator Gary Kubic said he has received similar calls from many residents in the Sheldon area. He said he's concerned about the potential health effects the chemicals might cause and the potential for them to enter local waters when it rains.

"If it's going to be an allowed practice, it needs to be advertised and with proper notice," Kubic said. "I would like to see residents come down to talk to council and then see if council directs me to hold a meeting or have a committee meeting ... to try to bring the parties responsible -- the state, the utility company, the residents and us -- to talk about it."

David Tempel Jr., SCE&G district manager, told residents last month that the company would consider setting up a notification system, which they have for tree-trimming services.