Former Georgetown steel mill site will undergo a cleanup. Here’s why

Georgetown’s Liberty Steel Mill closed in 2024, but the near 66-acre property is being eyed by a New Jersey-based company for redevelopment.

Liberty River LLC signed a Voluntary Cleanup Contract to assess and remediate the property known as a brownfield, which is a site that has been contaminated by the previous activities of manufacturing plants or other facilities on the property. A brownfield differs from a Superfund site due to manageable remediation from the state level rather than federal

The company plans to redevelop the property with light manufacturing, commercial space, multifamily residential space, green space and waterfront amenities (boardwalk and/or marina).

What to know about the site

Parts of the property previously housed sawmills, oil companies and chemical works, among other industrial operations.

A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment conducted in April 2025 identified a plethora of chemicals, oils and waste materials. The site would require monitoring and testing for hazardous material before new construction could begin.

By completing the contract, Liberty River receives liability protection from State Superfund actions and from third-party lawsuits because of the pre-existing contamination, South Carolina Department of Environmental Services spokesperson Laura Renwick said.

The company receives SCDES’ assistance in meeting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “All Appropriate Inquiry” rules, and they may also qualify for tax credits and low interest loans to defray the costs of redeveloping the property.

A schedule for completion is not yet available.

This story was originally published February 12, 2026 at 11:40 AM.