Senators hear about report on Pinewood toxic waste dump

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — State lawmakers have been told the part of a Sumter County toxic waste landfill that is most at risk is also the part closest to a lake that provides water to thousands of people.

A consultant who studied the Pinewood landfill testified Wednesday before a Senate subcommittee studying the closed dump.

Haley & Aldrich consulting company vice president David Hagen told senators an increasing amount of water is seeping into the dump that could become contaminated, but it is being properly contained.

Hagen says the landfill currently is no risk to human health, but agreed the oldest part of the landfill was not built to current codes.

Sumter Sen. Thomas McElveen says the committee hopes to hear soon from a former director who has said the dump needs major improvements.