Recycling Plant Fire in South Carolina Creates Environmental Hazard

State environmental officials say runoff from the thousands of gallons of water sprayed on a fire at a South Carolina recycling plant may have killed hundreds of fish.

The facility where plastic bottles and cardboard are shredded and compressed burned over the weekend of April 26.

Officials from the Department of Health and Environmental Control told The (Charleston) Post and Courier that tests performed on runoff water from the Premier Environmental Services site were too caustic to allow into the groundwater.

Wildlife officials say at least five different types of fish were killed. But they say the polluted water reached less than two miles downstream.

Agency spokesman Thom Berry said the contamination could have come from hundreds of gallons of sodium hydroxide stored at the plant.

Officials are still investigating what caused the fire.
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Information from: The Post and Courier,
http://www.charleston.net