South Carolina regulators want coal tar removed from river

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Environmental regulators in South Carolina want a utility to remove coal tar from the Congaree River in Columbia.

The State newspaper reported the Department of Health and Environmental Control has written South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. about proceeding with plans to remove most of the coal tar from where it was most concentrated in the river.

Coal tar is a byproduct of manufacturing gas. SCE&G had a plant near the river from the 1800s to the 1950s. Officials think the chemical leached into the river.

Coal tar is hazardous to people, fish and wildlife.

Officials think there's about 40,000 tons (36,300 metric tons) of sludge in the riverbed, covering about 11 acres (44.500 square meters).