S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control officials asserted that no decision has been made on Kinder Morgan’s request to expand its coal-trafficking operations in North Charleston and that no timetable has been established for announcing such a decision.

The non-announcement of a non-decision by officials followed a published media report that the agency had decided to allow the company to proceed with plans to increase the amount of coal it moves through the Charleston region from its Milford Street facility from 3.5 million to 10 million tons a year.

The resulting coal pile, a source of significant concerns to residents of the area and boaters who use a nearby marina, could at times be as much as 80 feet high and cover nearly 20 acres, by the company’s own estimate.

But Thom Berry, a spokesman for the agency, said word that a decision had been made took regulators by surprise.

After double-checking to ensure that he was still in the loop, Berry reported that “No decision has been made and as far as I’m aware no decision is imminent.”

Kinder Morgan applied for a permit from the state earlier this year, and the request has been the subject of two public meetings in North Charleston in recent weeks.

In late August, DHC announced plans to ensure the operation doesn’t compromise the public’s health.

Officials said they would soon be setting up air monitors around the facility and also plan to increase the number of storm water inspections they do at the 208-acre facility.

At the same time, the company announced plans to form a community advisory board to address local concerns. Anyone interested in participating on the community advisory committee should e-mail Lance Richards, Kinder Morgan’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Health and Safety Manager at lance_richards@kindermorgan.com.

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