We broke the story Sunday that Attorney General Henry McMaster may launch an inquiry into whether or not high radioactive pollution levels at the Barnwell Chem-Nuclear site were intentionally concealed from state legislators deliberating the future of the facility. The State newspaper later confirmed that McMaster summoned representatives of landfill operator Chem-Nuclear and officials from the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control to his office Wednesday to discuss the matter.

And Thursday the Charleston Post and Courier issued a scathing rebuke of those responsible for possibly covering up the full scope of the problems at the Barnwell dump site and praised McMaster for his efforts.

In view of the recent revelations about contamination, the state should consider closing the dump altogether until Mr. McMaster gets some answers.

South Carolina long has served as a dumping ground for toxic waste from the around the nation, while state residents were assured there was no need to worry.

For 36 years, South Carolina has allowed radioactive waste disposal at the Barnwell site — a service that only a few states have been willing to provide. South Carolina shouldn’t have to sustain unsafe levels of contamination as a result of the dump’s operation.

Mr. McMaster has begun asking the hard questions about public health and safety associated with the operation of the Barnwell nuclear waste site — and about the extent to which DHEC has been providing the necessary attention and public disclosure. The state deserves a full explanation and corrective action. [Charleston Post and Courier]