May 27, 2026
Environmental, Geotechnical, and Construction Materials Engineering Services
Location: Blythewood, Richland County, South Carolina
Client: Thomas & Hutton (on behalf of Richland County Economic Development and the South Carolina Department of Commerce)
- Supporting development of a 1,600-acre site for an electric vehicle manufacturing campus in Blythewood, Richland County, South Carolina
- Provided environmental and geotechnical services from due diligence through construction
- Supporting the largest earthmoving effort east of the Mississippi River
- Contributing to a facility expected to produce 200,000+ electric vehicles annually and create 4,000+ local jobs
The Project
The Scout Motors electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing facility in Blythewood, South Carolina, represents a transformative $2 billion investment by Volkswagen’s Scout Motors subsidiary. The project will anchor a major EV production hub in the Southeast, delivering long-term economic growth, advanced manufacturing capabilities, and thousands of new jobs to the region.
S&ME has been involved in this site since 2015, beginning with environmental and geotechnical due diligence for what was then the Blythewood Industrial Site. Our work continued through the site’s construction agreement with Scout Motors in 2022 and into the current construction phase of the manufacturing campus.
Working for Thomas & Hutton, with Richland County Economic Development and the South Carolina Department of Commerce as the end client, S&ME has supported nearly every phase of site development for this large-scale industrial project.
The Challenge
Developing a 1,600-acre EV manufacturing site required extensive environmental permitting, geotechnical evaluation, and construction-phase oversight at a scale rarely encountered in the eastern United States.
Key challenges included:
- Coordinating environmental approvals across federal, state, and local agencies
- Coordinating with state and federal agencies on cultural resources and managing significant public interest during and after the archaeological investigation.
- Coordinating with state and federal agencies on large-scale impacts to wetlands (~69 acres), ponds (~38 acres), and streams (~35,660 linear feet/~6.7 miles), and managing significant public interest during the permitting process.
- Evaluating complex subsurface conditions across a massive site footprint.
- Supporting one of the largest earthmoving operations in the country.
- Managing ground improvement and construction quality during aggressive schedules.
The size of the site, quantity of earthwork, and regulatory complexity required a highly coordinated, multidisciplinary engineering approach.
Our Technical Approach
S&ME provided a comprehensive suite of environmental, geotechnical, and construction materials engineering services tailored to the evolving project needs.
Natural Resources
Natural Resources services included jurisdictional waters assessments for wetlands/streams, impact permitting and compensatory mitigation support, protected species assessments, and cultural resources surveys. S&ME supported the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Individual Permit process, leading pre-application meetings, public notice and hearings, and coordinating with agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT), and Federally recognized Tribes to secure approval in approximately 230 days. To address project impacts, the team developed a robust compensatory mitigation package to offset the mitigation credit needs for wetland (~1,200 credits) and stream (~256,000 credits) impacts. The approach combined permittee-responsible mitigation within the watershed with the use of an existing mitigation bank.
S&ME Technical Principal, Chris Daves, PWS, shares,
“This project required a coordinated approach across multiple regulatory layers, from waters and species assessments to cultural resources and agency engagement. By working closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and key stakeholders early in the process, we were able to keep permitting on track and advance a mitigation strategy that balanced project needs with environmental stewardship.”
Cultural Resources
Cultural Resources investigations included a full range of surveys, from reconnaissance-level assessments through Phase I and Phase II studies to data recovery. In total, the team identified 26 archaeological sites and 21 above-ground resources, completed Phase II testing at six archaeological sites, and conducted data recovery excavations at one archaeological site. Throughout the data recovery effort, the team is developing an artifact exhibit at the Blythewood Historical Society and Museum, creating a public-facing website to share findings and explain the investigation process, and preparing to present results at both a professional conference and a community museum event. Throughout the effort, the team coordinated closely with SHPO, USACE, SCDOT and Federally recognized Tribes.
S&ME Principal Archeologist, Kim Connell, RPA, shares,
“Successful cultural resources work depends on both technical expertise and close coordination with agencies and stakeholders. This project reflects that balance, while also creating opportunities to share what we discovered with the public.”
Geotechnical Services
Geotechnical services included extensive subsurface exploration and analysis to support site grading, structural design, and regulated dam components associated with stormwater infrastructure. Across the site, S&ME completed 386 borings and 53 soundings, reaching depths of up to 100 feet, along with 17 surface and downhole seismic tests to evaluate subsurface conditions.
Construction Services
During construction, S&ME provides full-time observation and construction materials testing throughout the earthmoving phase. Work included oversight of large-scale grading operations, performing more than 14,500 in-place density tests and ground improvement activities, including the installation of compacted aggregate piers to support long-term facility performance.
S&ME’s Senior Project Manager, Turner Allman, PE, shares,
“On a site of this size, consistency during earthmoving and ground improvement is critical. Over the course of three years, we’ve deployed over 85 employees to support the full-time observation and testing needs.”
Work with S&ME’s Engineering Experts
Key Project Metrics
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Cut and fill heat map Earthwork: Approximately 25 million cubic yards of material moved, with cuts up to 60 feet and fills up to 110 feet to level the site and construct stormwater pond dams
- Site size: 1,600 acres, including 900 acres dedicated to the manufacturing plant
- Facility scale: 10+ million square feet of total building footprint
- Ground improvement: Around 130,000 compacted aggregate piers to stabilize site soils for heavy loads and strict settlement tolerances
- Environmental scope: ~2,500 acres evaluated, including the main site and adjacent SCDOT intersection improvements, for wetlands, threatened and endangered species, and cultural resources
“From a geotechnical perspective, the scale of this 1,600-acre site required balancing detailed subsurface analysis with practical construction solutions,” said Chad Bruorton, PE, Principal Engineer/Project Manager with S&ME. “Our team addressed highly variable soil conditions, supported extensive earthmoving and ground improvement, and navigated complex environmental permitting with multiple agencies. Being involved from due diligence through construction allowed us to maintain continuity as the project evolved into one of the largest earthmoving efforts east of the Mississippi.”
The Impact
Once complete, the Blythewood facility will produce more than 200,000 electric trucks and SUVs annually, create more than 4,000 permanent jobs, and reinforce South Carolina’s role as a leader in advanced manufacturing and electric vehicle production.
S&ME’s long-term involvement has helped position the Scout Motors facility for success, from early site selection through active construction. Our integrated environmental and geotechnical services have supported regulatory approvals, reduced risk, and maintained construction quality on one of the most significant EV manufacturing projects in the Southeast.