In brief
The Galey & Lord textile mill's past practices led to severe soil contamination, prompting a call for a federal cleanup of surrounding farmland where hazardous sewage sludge was used as fertilizer.
In the quiet town of Society Hill, South Carolina, the abandoned Galey & Lord textile mill stands as a stark reminder of an environmental crisis that has unfolded over decades. This once-thriving facility, known as the “King of Khaki,” played a significant role in American fashion but now resembles a desolate wasteland. Environmental officials say the real threat emanates from the contaminated farmland that spans nearly 10,000 acres around it—a region now at the center of a groundbreaking proposal for federal Superfund status.The mill, located near the Great Pee Dee River, previously processed textile materials and, for many years, provided farmers with treated sewage sludge as a fertilizer, touted to enhance crop yield. Unbeknownst to these farmers, this sludge contained hazardous substances known as "forever chemicals," or PFAS, associated with serious health concerns, including cancer.Robert O’Neal, a local farmer who used the mill's sludge in the late 1990s, expressed his dismay upon learning of the contamination. "They said that it was good fertilizer, that it would help our crops," he recalled. Unfortunately, recent tests have confirmed alarming levels of PFAS in the soil and crops, raising urgent questions about food safety and agricultural practices in the area.As the first known instance of farmland being sought for Superfund status due to sewage sludge contamination, this case has drawn attention to the broader implications of industrial waste disposal practices and their long-lasting effects on the environment and public health. Local leaders are now pushing for immediate attention and federal resources to address an issue that has lingered for too long amidst agricultural and industrial intersections. The fight for a safer future has just begun in this scarred landscape, where the legacy of past practices will dictate the health of generations to come.
