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Blue Water Industries LLC (now Martin Marietta Southeast Agg Operations, LLC) has applied for environmental permits from DHEC (now SCDES) to mine sand at a site located at 331 East Highway 378 Hanna, approximately ¾ of a mile east of Salem, in Florence County (TMS #00418-02-006). A proposed reclamation plan to restore the site to grassland and a lake/pond has been submitted with the application.  

This webpage has been developed by SCDES as a community resource and will be updated as new information is made available. Please bring this webpage to the attention of others you know who may be interested.

Mining

DHEC’s Bureau of Land and Waste Management (BLWM) received an application for a mine operating permit for the proposed Henry Tract Mine on August 11, 2023. The BLWM provided notice of the application in the Florence Morning News newspaper and began accepting comments on August 31, 2023. Additionally, the public notice was mailed to adjacent landowners, local and state government/regulatory agencies, and other interested parties. The public notice was also posted on DHEC’s ePermitting webpage. 

During the initial public comment period, the BLWM received a request for a public meeting and public hearing on the proposed Henry Tract Mine. DHEC acknowledged this request on October 12, 2023. Notice of the public meeting and public hearing was provided in the Florence Morning News newspaper on November 2, 2023. Notice was also provided to adjacent landowners, local and state government/regulatory agencies, and other interested parties. With this notice, the public comment period on the mine permit application has been extended through December 22, 2023.

SCDES's Final Mine Operating Permit Decision

After careful review and consideration of all comments and information received from concerned citizens and local, state, and federal agencies, along with supplemental information provided by the applicant, SCDES (formerly known as DHEC) determined that the Henry Tract Mine can comply with the South Carolina Mining Act and applicable mining regulations. SCDES approved the mine application and issued Mine Operating Permit I-002403 for the Henry Tract Mine on January 29, 2025. The final mine permit, maps, reclamation plan, and groundwater monitoring plan are available in the approved permit package below.

Questions about the Henry Tract Mine and the BLWM’s mine permitting process may be directed to:

Colby Myers
Phone: (803) 898-3079
Email: colby.myers@des.sc.gov

Water Quality

DHEC’s Bureau of Water (BOW) issues National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits to minimize environmental impacts from stormwater runoff and other water discharges that may occur during construction and operation of a facility.

Coverage under NPDES General Permit SCG73000 “Discharges Associated with Nonmetal Mineral Mining Facilities” is required for the proposed Salem-Sand Henry Tract Mine in conjunction with a mine operating permit. This general permit coverage addresses water quality issues for both stormwater and wastewater discharged from the site. It also requires the installation of Best Management Practices for sediment and erosion control and reporting and inspection requirements.

On September 6, 2023, the BOW received a Notice of Intent from Blue Water Industries LLC (now Martin Marietta Southeast Agg Operations, LLC) requesting coverage under existing NPDES General Permit SCG73000 for the proposed Henry Tract Mine. The BOW determined that the Henry Tract Mine met the requirements of the NPDES General Permit and issued coverage on October 5, 2023. 

Documents related to the BOW’s NPDES permitting process for the Henry Tract Mine are available below:

Questions about the NPDES general permit coverage and the BOW’s permitting process may be directed to:
Brett Caswell
Phone: (803) 898-4396
Email: Brett.Caswell@des.sc.gov

Public Meeting and Public Hearing

DHEC held a public hearing on December 7, 2023, at 7:30 PM, to accept oral and written comments on the proposed Henry Tract Mine. A public meeting was held from 6:00 PM until 7:30 PM prior to the public hearing.

Impact of Public Comments in SCDES’s Permitting Process 

SCDES values all comments made during the public comment period. Local community members provide a unique perspective and are valuable resources in addressing community concerns in the permitting process.  Becoming better informed is an important first step in providing effective public comments that may influence specific terms and conditions that must be followed by the owner/operator if a permit is issued.

Effective comments are those that provide accurate, specific details about the site of a proposed project, inaccuracies in the permit application, errors in SCDES’s technical review or draft permit, and any other information demonstrating that a proposed project cannot operate in compliance with environmental regulations.   

It is important to know that SCDES cannot make a permit decision based on a vote or how many comments are received. There are also some common issues/comments related to mining operations that SCDES does not have the regulatory or legal authority to consider when making a permit decision, for example:   

  • Truck traffic, access to public roads, weight limits, and traffic patterns are governed by the South Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT) and the local county. 
  • Industrial development and operating hours are governed by the local county through zoning and land use planning. 

Beginning a conversation early about these and other quality of life issues is an effective way for communities to work together with local government officials, their legislative delegation, mining representatives, and other interested parties to find solutions and reach common goals. 

Filing a Request for Final Review

South Carolina Mining Council

S.C. Code Ann. § 48-20-190 provides: “An applicant for a certificate of exploration or operating permit or a person who is aggrieved and is directly affected by the permit may appeal to the council from a decision or determination of the department issuing, refusing, modifying, suspending, revoking, or terminating a certificate of exploration or operating permit or reclamation plan, or imposing a term or condition on the certificate, permit, or reclamation plan. The person taking the appeal within thirty days after the department's decision shall give written notice to the council through its secretary that he desires to appeal and file a copy of the notice with the department at the same time.”

Administrative Law Court

S.C. Code Ann. § 48-6-30(D)(2) provides: “Within thirty calendar days after the mailing of a decision [pursuant to S.C. Code Ann.§ 48-6-30(D)(1)], an applicant, permittee, licensee, certificate holder, or affected person desiring to contest the department decision may request a contested case hearing before the Administrative Law Court, in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act.” Should you have a question regarding the filing of a request for contested case hearing, please contact the South Carolina Administrative Law Court. 

Stay Connected - Community Engagement and Resources

SCDES is committed to providing meaningful opportunities to hear the questions and concerns of community members and share information on our permitting processes. SCDES offers multiple ways to connect with our staff during the permitting process and beyond, including:

  • Calling or connecting with SCDES staff to discuss the proposed Saluda Quarry one-on-one.
  • Submitting a written comment or question.
  • Receiving additional information by email or mail.
  • Visiting this webpage for information and updates.
  • Stay informed about local mining issues in your community.

Additionally, we hope the following information will provide a better understanding of how you can be involved in SCDES’s decision-making process:

SCDES encourages residents to ask questions and share information with us. Staying engaged in our process helps us to learn more about your community. 

Questions about community engagement in SCDES’s permitting process may be directed to:

Donna Moye
Phone: (803) 898-1382
Email: Donna.Moye@des.sc.gov