For the second time in three days, students at Flint Hill Elementary School have been sent home as state regulators issued a “total stop” order for the neighboring Silfab Solar facility following a leak of hydrofluoric acid.
The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) took the extraordinary step late Thursday of ordering the plant to “immediately cease all operations” after the second hazardous material incident this week. Following the directive, the Fort Mill School District announced that Flint Hill Elementary will remain closed on Friday, March 6.
A Week of Toxic Troubles
The latest incident began early Thursday morning, March 5, involving hydrofluoric acid — a highly corrosive and toxic chemical used in solar cell manufacturing. While York County Emergency Management stated the leak was contained within a secondary vessel and posed no immediate health risk to the public, the proximity of the facility to the school campus triggered a mass disruption.
Buses already en route to Flint Hill on Thursday morning were diverted to Pleasant Knoll Middle School, where parents were forced to wait in long lines to reclaim their children.
“If you’re sloppy with what we call nonhazardous chemicals, imagine what you’re going to be like with the hazardous stuff,” said State Senator Michael Johnson, who has been a vocal critic of the plant’s location. “It’s time to bring this to an end.”
Back-to-Back Leaks
This week’s timeline has left parents and local officials “incredibly disappointed”:
• Tuesday, March 3: A spill of roughly 300 gallons of potassium hydroxide (a caustic cleaning agent) prompted the first investigation by SCDES.
• Thursday, March 5: A leak of hydrofluoric acid led to the total shutdown of the facility and the emergency closure of Flint Hill Elementary.
SCDES and Legal Action
The directive signed by DES Director Myra C. Reece mandates that Silfab stop all “commissioning activities” and place all systems in a safe condition indefinitely. The agency is currently investigating why the company’s initial reports of the first spill were significantly lower than the actual volume released.
The Fort Mill School District has formally joined state legislators in requesting that the facility remain closed until a “thorough investigation and a comprehensive review of all safety protocols” are completed. Meanwhile, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has met with DES officials to discuss potential legal action against the manufacturer.
