FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 22, 2006
Some Murrells Inlet shellfish beds closed
COLUMBIA - The Conditionally Approved shellfish beds in Murrells Inlet in Georgetown County have been closed to harvesting because of recent rainfall and the potential for contamination, the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control reported today.
Rainfall can wash contaminants into shellfish harvesting areas, causing a temporary degradation of water quality, said Mike Pearson, manager of DHECs Region 6 Shellfish Sanitation Program. These areas have been closed as a precaution and will remain closed until monitoring shows fecal coliform bacteria concentrations to be acceptable for shellfish harvest.
For information about shellfish harvesting areas in the Georgetown County area, contact DHECs Region 6 Environmental Quality Control District office in Myrtle Beach at (843) 238-4378. For information about Charleston area beds, contact DHECs Region 7 EQC office in North Charleston at (843) 740-1590. Information about shellfish harvesting areas in the Beaufort area may be obtained from DHECs Region 8 EQC district office in Burton at (843) 846-1030.
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For more information:
Clair Boatwright - (803) 898 4461
E-mail - boatwrc@dhec.sc.gov