$944K Settlement Filed in Class-Action Lawsuit Against Lowcountry Aluminum Plant

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster):  A possible end is in sight to a class-action lawsuit against a Berkeley County aluminum manufacturer as a settlement of $944,000 has been submitted in federal court.

The suit was filed against the Mt. Holly Century Aluminum plant that’s located off US-52 after multiple incidents that released emissions into the air.

This all started in September of 2023 when there were four events where ‘alumina dust’ was emitted from the plant. There were complaints from hundreds of people who live in the area of that white, gritty substance coating vehicles, plants, mailboxes -- really anything else outside in areas across Goose Creek.

A community meeting took place the next month to address those concerns but many left the meeting feeling like their questions regarding the harm of the emissions were not answered.

The class-action lawsuit was then filed in November of 2023.

Just last week, Century Aluminum was fined by the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services for $360,000 for failing emissions tests and EPA violations. Due to the nature of its operations, Century Aluminum is subject to regulations by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In addition to staying within regulations, Century Aluminum was also required to conduct and record daily pressure drop readings, monthly operation and maintenance checks and annual internal inspections.

According to the consent order by SCDES, in the tests performed between March 2021 and June 2023, Century Aluminum exceeded emission limits more than a dozen times.

After three mediation sessions, in August and September of 2024 and January of 2025, the parties reached a settlement of the class-action property damage claims. The settlement documents state Century Aluminum agreed to pay $944,000.

Elliotte Quinn with the Steinberg Law Firm, one of the plaintiffs’ attorneys on this case, says there will need to be additional filings and court approval before this settlement will be final.

Century Aluminum declined to comment.

Courtesy: www.live5news.com