A concrete batch plant in Gray Court, South Carolina, is facing state enforcement action after an environmental inspection revealed excessive fugitive dust emissions and severe permit violations that collected on a neighboring property, according to an inspection report obtained by WYFF News 4.
The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) conducted a site visit at Metrocon Incorporated on July 2, finding that the facility operated in violation of state and federal regulations as well as its construction permit requirements. Inspectors documented fugitive dust leaving company grounds, coating vehicles, and generating heavy particulate pollution from truck traffic on nearby roadways.
Environmental Violations and Reporting Failures
According to the SCDES inspection report, the facility acknowledged a switchboard malfunction that damaged bin vent filters and triggered excess emissions from an on-site silo. State regulators noted that Metrocon Incorporated failed to report the equipment failure within the mandatory 24-hour window and neglected to submit a follow-up report within 30 days.
Furthermore, state records show the facility missed startup notification deadlines. The plant began operations on November 30, 2025, but did not submit its initial startup notification until July 13, 2026, according to the regulatory filing.
SCDES requires concrete facilities to maintain a strict Fugitive Dust Control Plan. To mitigate particulate spread, state inspectors recommended that Metrocon Incorporated implement vehicle speed limits, deploy water trucks, keep aggregate loads covered until they reach stockpiles, expand its road sprinkler system, and pave facility roadways.
WYFF News 4 observed water treatment operations on-site following the inspection. The SCDES Bureau of Air Quality Enforcement Section is currently reviewing the violations to determine potential fines and penalties.
Impact on Neighboring Property and Resident
The state inspection was initiated following a complaint filed by John Bonaguro, a disabled veteran who lives directly across the street from the concrete plant. Bonaguro stated that particulate matter heavily impacted his daily life and agricultural efforts.
“You could see dust permeating all over there,” Bonaguro told WYFF News 4. “It just permeates. And then when the wind comes, all that does, where’s it go? Over here. Coming over and engulfing everything.”
Bonaguro purchased the seven-acre property to establish a small farm growing produce and raising goats and hens, a routine he used to manage post-traumatic stress disorder. Due to the accumulation of dust, he stopped farming and rehomed his animals.
“They destroyed me here. Agriculturally. They destroyed my health. Not only my physical, but my mental health,” Bonaguro said.
WYFF News 4 reached out to Metrocon Incorporated via email twice and attempted to contact plant owners and managers by phone for comment. The facility did not respond to the requests and provided no public statement.
Worth a look