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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. wants to build a landfill in Colleton County to dump coal ash from a nearby power plant.

The State newspaper reported Tuesday that some residents near the site near Round O don't like the plans for a landfill that could be 15 stories tall.

A meeting is planned Jan. 27 to discuss whether local officials should approve the landfill.

The Sierra Club of South Carolina, the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League and some large landowners are upset about the proposed landfill.

SCE&G spokesman Robin Yanity says the utility is running out of space at its plant near Canadys site to store the ash. He says the landfill would include a synthetic liner to contain the waste.

Coal ash contains arsenic and heavy metals that have been linked with a number of health problems.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)