State Says Berkeley County Plant Exceeded Emission Limits

State regulators say a Berkeley County cement plant’s dust emissions have exceeded the permitted limit.

The Herald-Mail reports that the Division of Air Quality issued a notice of violation to the Essroc plant on Monday.

A state inspection last week found that the plant’s emissions of a dust-like particulate matter exceeded its 10 percent limit. The notice says the highest average emission observed by inspectors was more than 40 percent.

According to the notice, Essroc could be subject to civil and/or criminal penalties.

Essroc environmental manager Bradley Blase attributed the excessive dust emissions to an increase in the number of trucks hauling a material known as clinker to a sister plant in Pennsylvania.

The plant has halted the deliveries and taken other steps to contain the dust.