The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SC DES) imposed a $7,000 fine to the New-Indy paper and pulp facility in York County for repeated violations of state rules, according to WCNC.
The enforcement action, reported by SC DES in October 2025, resulted from occurrences dating back to March 2024. The essence of the infringement is that New-Indy failed to control sulfur dioxide emissions, according to an approved source test completed in March 2024. Although SC DES stated that the plant demonstrated compliance one day after the test data was provided, the previous failure resulted in the penalty.
Furthermore, the plant was flagged for continuous documentation difficulties, including:
Missing Inspection Forms: In March 2024, New-Indy alerted regulators that it was unable to locate forms used to record semiannual visual inspections of several pieces of on-site equipment.
Failed Reporting: Between July 2023 and December 2023, the organization failed to document and report the mandatory semiannual visual inspections.
Late Submission: The plant also failed to submit a necessary data substitution plan at least 90 days before the start-up of affected sources. This plan was eventually submitted in January 2025.
SC DES has ordered that New-Indy take steps to assure complete compliance with all emissions restrictions, visual emission inspection and reporting requirements, and data substitution plan requirements going forward.
This punishment follows a history of environmental problems at the factory. Residents have been concerned about the facility’s emissions for several years, with a strong, persistent stench noticed in 2021. In a related legal matter, the corporation paid nearly $103 million in June 2024 to settle a class-action lawsuit filed by approximately 6,000 local people over air quality concerns.
