Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

4 homeowners’ associations and 3 conservation organizations ask DHEC

CAMPOBELLO—Homeowners and conservation organizations have made a move asking the state to rescind a septic tank permit for a proposed RV park in Campobello. 

The request was made to the governing board of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control to review and rescind the permit issued to T Tree Farms RV Park, proposed on Landrum Mill Road. 

Homeowners Associations involved include the Enclave at Fairview Farm, Golden Hills of Fairview, Greenspace of Fairview and North Pacolet Association, which together include about 5,000 acres and 100 members. 

The conservation organizations involved are the Southern Environmental Law Center, the South Carolina Native Plant Society and Upstate Forever. 

Upstate Forever sent a press release last week about the appeal.

The appeal claims that the application for the septic tank permit states that Landrum Mill Road is a public road, but is a narrow privately-owned road; that the application states that the RV park will be served with public water, but  there is no public water at the site; that the specification of the septic system, including size, flow rates and capacity are substandard and neither the RV park developer nor DHEC staff evaluated the impacts of the park’s operation on water quality and aquatic habitat of Goldmine Creek and 2 rare plants.

Opponents of the park say it took more than 5 months for DHEC staff to respond to the associations’ request under the state’s Freedom of Information Act to obtain documents about the park and the FOIA generally requires a response within 40 days. 

The park is proposed on about 37 acres of land for 52 RV sites. 

“This is not your typical septic tank,” Golden Hills of Fairview resident Russell Rock said. “This is a very large multi-tank system that would accept the waste from up to 52 RVs. While in the RV, the waste is treated with formaldehyde and other harsh chemicals. DHEC needs to be extremely careful and diligent in reviewing all aspects of this system and the associated leach field. They failed to do that.” 

Executive Director of Upstate Forever Andrea Cooper said their organization has been actively involved in protecting the rural character and scenic beauty of this special area of the state for more than 20 years. 

“We hold the conservation easement on the 1,331-acre Greenspace of Fairview property that is literally across the road from the proposed RV park,” Cooper said. “We also hold easements on several other beautiful properties in the area. This is the wrong place for an RV park.” 

Nearby homeowners have been fighting to stop the park most of the year. A petition was started in the spring and meetings have been held, including one at the Landrum Depot with residents and Spartanburg County Council.