About Us
The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) is a team of environmental subject matter experts whose work impacts every South Carolinian, every day. We use science and data to drive our decisions and actions. Our work supports a resilient and sustainable South Carolina, and our efforts safeguard our air, land, water and coasts for generations to come.

Who We Are
SCDES is a South Carolina state cabinet agency established by state law on July 1, 2024, with specific roles and responsibilities for overseeing the protection and preservation of South Carolina’s environment and natural resources. We are not just scientists, environmental experts, permitting engineers and inspectors. We are collaborators, educators, advisors and public servants, who ensure all South Carolinians have a healthy environment. SCDES will focus on efficient and better delivery of services with a commitment to Science, Service and Sustainability.   

SCDES is comprised of five main environmental bureaus: 

• Bureau of Water 
• Bureau of Air Quality
• Bureau of Land and Waste Management 
• Bureau of Coastal Management 
• Bureau of Regional and Laboratory Services  

As part of the restructuring, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resource’s hydrology and aquatic nuisance species programs are now part of SCDES’s Bureau of Water. 

These five environmental bureaus are assisted by several important support teams including Human Resources, Finance and Operations, IT, Communications, Collaborative Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives, Legislative Affairs, General Counsel, Constituent Services and others.   

SCDES has offices throughout the state where more than 1,200 team members provide environmental oversight and essential services that protect all communities across the state. The agency is headquartered in Columbia.

What We Do
We are driven by science and data, serving as our state’s foremost expert in the pursuit of environmental quality. We believe in using science to guide South Carolina toward smart growth, safeguarding our state’s natural resources so that as our population expands, we continue to flourish together. 

We are dedicated to service, acting on behalf of our environment for the benefit of all South Carolinians.   

We are champions of sustainability, seeking innovative practices that enhance our environment and promote resilient communities across the state. 

We act on behalf of the environment for the benefit of all South Carolinians, and everything we do is out of respect and appreciation for our great state and a desire to preserve its natural resources for generations to come.