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North Myrtle Beach Quarry Public Meeting & Hearing

SCDES will hold a combination public meeting and public hearing on August 27, 2026 to accept oral and written comments on the proposed North Myrtle Beach Quarry modification. The public meeting will be held from 6:00 – 7:00 PM, with the public hearing beginning at 7:00 PM. Sign-in and an opportunity to meet SCDES staff will begin at 5:30 PM. These events will take place at the Public Safety Building located at 3909 Walnut Street in Loris, SC.

Wake Stone Corporation has applied to the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) to modify their permit to mine limestone at a site located at 3990 Hwy 9 Business E in Horry County, approximately 6.7 miles southwest of Loris, SC. A proposed reclamation plan to restore the site to a lake or 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

SCDES’s Bureau of Land and Waste Management (BLWM) received an application for a modification to the mine operating permit for North Myrtle Beach Quarry on May 1, 2026. The BLWM provided notice of the application to the Loris Scene newspaper and began accepting comments on July 22, 2026. Additionally, the public notice was mailed or emailed to adjacent landowners, local and state government/regulatory agencies, and other interested parties.  

The mine permit application, reclamation plan, maps, and other related documents are available below. 

Questions about the proposed modification to the North Myrtle Beach Quarry application and the BLWM’s mine permitting process may be directed to:

Colby Myers
Project Manager, Mining and Reclamation Section 
Phone: (803) 898-3079 
Email: colby.myers@des.sc.gov 

Water Quality

SCDES’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 SCG730000 “Discharges Associated with Nonmetal Mineral Mining Facilities” is required for the North Myrtle Beach Quarry 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.

The original NPDES coverage, SCG730316, for the North Myrtle Beach Quarry was issued on May 14, 2004. However, the BOW to date has not yet received a Notice of Intent (NOI) for the proposed modification. The website will be updated accordingly when this proposed modification to the SCG730000 general permit coverage is received by SCDES.

Documents related to the BOW’s NPDES permitting process for the North Myrtle Beach Quarry 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 

Impact of Public Comments on 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. 

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 modification to the North Myrtle Beach 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.

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