DHEC Involvement at DIVEX - 1995
In its Ten Miscues story, The State was critical of DHEC for its actions involving the 1994 explosion and investigation at DIVEX in Richland County.
From The State archives, the following published Letter to the Editor from then-Region IV Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, John H. Hankinson, sets the record straight on DHEC’s involvement at the DIVEX issue.
February 9, 1995
Section: EDITORIAL
Edition: FINAL
Page: A10
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
DIVEX \ COMPLETE STORY WAS NOT REPORTED
I met with reporter Sammy Fretwell on Jan. 11 concerning the involvement of the Environmental Protection Agency and the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control at the Divex sites. Mr. Fretwell did not discuss fully the contents of a Dec. 11, 1994, letter in his possession that I sent to DHEC regarding its involvement with these sites. I would like to emphasize that:
I have complete confidence in the EPA's Christopher Militscher, as well as other federal, DHEC and Richland County personnel, who did an outstanding job in cleaning up these sites.
The "report" about the catastrophic threat to Columbia by Divex was a case study done for a technical symposium and should not have been referred to as a report.
Allegations of improper relationships between Jack Sutherland and regulators mentioned in the case study were based on hearsay and were inappropriate.
DHEC properly classified Divex as an RCRA small quantity generator and transporter. DHEC had limited authority over Divex.
No agency knew the extent of the situation until after the explosion that killed Mr. Sutherland. He is believed to have withheld information from regulators that would have alerted them to the extremely dangerous situation.
JOHN H. HANKINSON JR.
Administrator, Region IV
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Atlanta, Ga.
For additional information, contact: (803) 898-3432