CATAWBA, S.C. — The Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation is concerned New Indy Containerboard's York County plant is responsible for reports of foam forming downstream along the Catawba River.
Regulators believe the facility's shift from bleached white paper to brown paper is responsible for the odor.
The Catawba Riverkeeper's Brandon Jones is worried the new process is also leading to foam surfacing at Landsford Canal State Park, Fishing Creek Lake and Lake Wateree.
The Catawba River forms the eastern border to the plant, and Landsford Canal State Park is roughly two miles downstream.
"We really depend on it," Jones said about the park. "It's a wonderful part of the area."
The foundation believes the company's new paper process is discharging a lot more surfactants into the river, which are substances that can create bubbles.
He said the first reports of the foam surfaced in November.
"So far, no one that we know of, at least, has actually been testing that," Jones said. "No one has been out there collecting those samples."
As DHEC and the EPA monitor the plant's air quality, Jones hopes DHEC will also take samples from the river.
"We just want to make sure that people are encouraging both their government, their legislators, to protect this water resource," Jones said.
New Indy hasn't returned WCNC Charlotte's request for comment.
Contact Brandon Golder at bgoldner@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.