South Carolina Department of Natural Resources has suspended boating on a section of the Waccamaw River near the Grainger Generating Station in the Conway area.
“In order to combat a potential threat posed by boat traffic to flood berms protecting coal ash ponds adjacent to the Waccamaw River near Conway,” SCDNR Director Alvin Taylor “signed an emergency regulation establishing a ‘Vessel Exclusionary Zone’ on the waters of the Waccamaw River in the vicinity of the Santee-Cooper Generating Station in Conway,” according to a press release from SCDNR.
Until rescinded, no vessels or people will be allowed to enter the zone, the release says. The zone covers all navigable waters of the Waccamaw River between U.S. Business Highway 501 and U.S. Highway 501 in Conway, and started at 10 a.m. on Monday. The zone designation will
“remain in effect until waters recede and conditions allow for safe navigation without the potential for berm degradation.”
“State and Federal authorities have determined that potential hazards resulting from high waters of the Waccamaw River are present and that continued vessel traffic could degrade flood berms adjacent to the Santee Cooper ash ponds located near Conway, allowing the coal ash to enter the Waccamaw River system,” states the release.