SOUTH CONGAREE, S.C. — Some South Congaree residents are raising environmental concerns about a local business.
In January, News19 filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with SCDHEC after State Representative RJ May and South Congaree Mayor Cindy Campbell expressed concerns about a business in the area.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) responded with more than 50 documents. According to these documents, DHEC rated Columbia Auto Parts in South Congaree "unsatisfactory."
On Thursday afternoon, News19 spoke with the owner of Columbia Auto Parts, Joshua Cohen, and his lawyer, as well as State Representative RJ May and the business's neighbors. May serves District 88, which includes South Congaree.
The auto shop at Skyview Drive and Pine Street is at the center of recent DHEC inspections and Cohen said he is currently working through correcting this unsatisfactory grade.
"So, I was contacted by the mayor and a number of residents with regards to concerns they had about Columbia Auto Parts," May said. "As the area's representative, the health and safety of our residents are of utmost concern of myself. So I brought that information to DHEC, asking them to look into it because we want to ensure that the businesses that deal with hazardous materials are following our laws and regulations."
According to the more than 50 documents provided in response to a FOIA request, the business has 22 violations. These include concerns not addressed related to spill and leak prevention, employee training, and inspection requirements.
In addition to documents, DHEC provided photos taken at the business during their inspection in November of 2023.
According to documentation from DHEC, since November, Columbia Auto Parts has had until April 15 of this year to make adjustments.
Cohen said they have fixed operation protocol of their oil water separator and hired an environmental company to take care of the other concerns, which he said are paperwork issues.
"There are numerous quarterly or annual self inspections, self-regulated things that you're supposed to do, and then you're supposed to file a very specific type of inspection paper in the book. So when they come and look at the book, they can say you did your inspections or you didn't do your inspections," Cohen said. "So, if you do not put the correct paper in the book, then they count it as non-existent, and that's it. So that being said, we just need to update the paperwork."
Cohen said that they are still in the process of addressing these issues. He said that because of numerous inspections by several DHEC personnel, as well as neighbors' complaints and lawsuits, he has had to close his business temporarily to dedicate himself fully to this.
According to complaints neighbors filed with DHEC, their concerns are related to groundwater quality to private wells in the area, gasoline smells causing migraines, mosquitos collecting, and loud noise.
Terri Razny lives just down the road from Columbia Auto Parts.
"It's sometimes eight, nine, and I've heard them out there at one o'clock in the morning. So, it's like, what are you doing at 1 a.m.?" Razny said.
Other neighbors said that the company had not had any other issues for the past month or so.
Cohen said he would like to reopen his business if possible, but he's unsure if that can happen. He said they are waiting for DHEC's response to see if everything is in compliance. If not, he said they intend to fix it and provide whatever else is needed.