What is the Compliance and Enforcement Section?  

Compliance and Enforcement Project Managers with the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services’ Bureau of Coastal Management (SCDES BCM) focus on ensuring that coastal development and activities adhere to the South Carolina Coastal Tidelands and Wetlands Act (Act) and Coastal Division Regulations (Regulations). The primary purpose of their role is to monitor, enforce, and ensure compliance with the Regulations within the state's four Critical Areas.  

Coastal Waters - the navigable waters of the United States subject to the ebb and flood of the tide and which are saline waters, shoreward to their mean high-water mark. 

Tidelands - all areas which are at or below mean high tide and coastal wetlands, mudflats, and similar areas that are contiguous or adjacent to coastal waters and are an integral part of the estuarine systems involved. Coastal wetlands include marshes, mudflats, and shallows and means those areas periodically inundated by saline waters whether or not the saline waters reach the area naturally or through artificial water courses and those areas that are normally characterized by the prevalence of saline water vegetation capable of growth and reproduction. 

Beaches - those lands subject to periodic inundation by tidal and wave action so that no nonlittoral vegetation is established. 

Beach/Dune System - all land from the mean high-water mark of the Atlantic Ocean landward to the 40-year setback line described in Section 48–39–280.