
CHARLESTON, SC (WCIV) — Frontier Logistics has settled a federal lawsuit with two local organizations for $1 million after alleging the company spilled plastic pellets into the Charleston Harbor in 2019.
On Wednesday, the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) announced the lawsuit between Frontier versus the Charleston Waterkeeper and Coastal Conservation League ended, pending court approval.
Frontier, in addition to the $1 million settlement, agreed to have an independent auditor, along with a nurdle-pollution expert, visit its new facility in North Charleston to make sure recommendations on preventing any future spillage of plastic pellets into the harbor or environment. Until recently, Frontier operated a pellet-packaging facility directly over the water at Union Pier downtown.
Charleston Waterkeeper’s Andrew Wunderley said it’s a huge win.
“This is a big deal for water quality right here in the Charleston Harbor watershed and we’re glad that Frontier stepped up to the plate and is investing in water quality right here in the Charleston Harbor watershed,” Wunderley said. “But more importantly, we’re glad that they’re committed to making some upgrades to the North Charleston facility to prevent any future spills from that facility.”
The $1 million will be used to fund water-quality improvements in the Charleston Harbor watershed, SELC officials said.
“More and more of these nurdle exporters want to set up shop on the coast, but industry growth cannot come at the expense of our waterways,” said Laura Cantral, executive director of the Coastal Conservation League. “We hope the precautions being put in place at Frontier as a result of this lawsuit will serve as an example for the rest of the industry.”
In July 2019, beach-goers found plastic pellets, now known as nurdles, on Sullivan's Island and later in the waters and marshes around the Charleston Harbor.
After the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control closed its case without assigning responsibility, SELC filed a lawsuit.
In response to the agreement, Frontier CEO George Cook said they decided to settle because the mounting legal fees and future money on the lawsuit could be put to better use.
In a statement to ABC News 4, Cook said in part:
"We believe the settlement, although large for a company our size, is to be paid over time. It is our sincere hope and belief that the funds will be used for beneficial environmental projects in the greater Charleston Harbor. We also maintain that we were not at fault for the subject matter under this lawsuit, however, we felt the monies could be better spent off the court room floor and into the hands of local environmental folks, who would then use the proceeds to do some good things for the greater Charleston Harbor Community."