ePermitting Training - Underground Injection Control
S.C. Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) begins Daily Ground-Level Ozone Forecasts for Residents
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 1, 2025 COLUMBIA, S.C. — From April 1 through September 30, the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) provides a daily forecast for ground-level ozone concentrations across the state. These forecasts can help South Carolinians take precautions to prevent potential health impacts on days with expected increases in ozone concentrations. Ozone…, Sophie Grimsley, Air Quality Data Analyst with SCDES’s Bureau of Air Quality, records data from one of SCDES’s air quality monitoring stations located throughout the state., “High ozone concentrations generally occur on hot, sunny days in the spring and summer when the air is stagnant and the sun’s rays shine more directly on the earth’s surface,”, said Rhonda Thompson, chief of SCDES’s Bureau of Air Quality., “We issue our daily ozone forecasts to help South Carolinians make healthy decisions about outdoor activities during the summer when we feel the most impacts from ozone.” SCDES reports its air quality data to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and that information is provided at the ZIP-code level for all of South Carolina through the EPA’s AirNow.gov website. The data are updated…, said Greg Quina, Air Quality Modeling Section Manager with SCDES's Bureau of Air Quality., “Mobile sources of air pollution such as cars, trucks and lawn equipment contribute to more than half of South Carolina’s ozone levels, so being mindful of engine use during hot summer days can be a help.” People can reduce ozone pollution by: Driving less by carpooling, walking or riding a bike, or using public transportation Reducing idling by turning off vehicle engines if you’re expected to…CZC Additional Source Reviews
CZC Review of State Permits
Preserving Water Resources: Public Asked to Provide Input on Water Use Planning at WaterSC Listening Sessions in St. Helena Island, Greenville and Florence
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 1, 2025 COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolinians are asked to offer input and ideas about protecting and managing the state's natural water resources during upcoming WaterSC Listening Sessions. Public engagement is a critical component of WaterSC, a statewide initiative to help plan for the long-term preservation of South Carolina’s water resources. As demand for water…, Members of the public discuss water use planning with WaterSC representatives at a WaterSC Listening Session held in January. Residents are invited to attend upcoming listening sessions to provide input about the long-term preservation of South Carolina’s water resources., "We encourage residents to use these listening sessions as opportunities to directly engage with WaterSC representatives and learn how multiple sectors are coming together to take a united approach to water preservation,", said Myra Reece, SCDES Interim Director and Chair of WaterSC., "Water is a shared resource for all of us, which is why we want South Carolinians to be active partners in water planning in our state.” , The listening sessions will take place:, , Tuesday, April 8, 6-8 p.m., Penn Center, 16 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, St. Helena Island, , Wednesday, April 9, 6-8 p.m., Clemson University's Pee Dee Research & Education Center, 2200 East Pocket Road, Florence, , Thursday, April 10, 6-8 p.m., Greenville ReWa (Renewable Water Resources), 560 Mauldin Road, Greenville, Residents can submit questions or comments at any time to the WaterSC Resources Working Group by emailing WaterSC@des.sc.gov or completing the online form available at des.sc.gov/WaterSC. To learn more about WaterSC, review previous state water plans, and watch meeting recordings, visit des.sc.gov/WaterSC. ###Martin Marietta - Rock Hill Quarry Public Meeting/Hearing
The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) will hold a combination public meeting and public hearing on the proposed modification of the Rock Hill Quarry on May 1, 2025, at the Rock Hill Operations Center located at 757 Anderson Rd S, Rock Hill, SC 29730. The public meeting will be held from 5:30 – 7:00 PM, with the public hearing held immediately thereafter. The public…WaterSC Listening Session - St. Helena Island
South Carolinians are asked to offer input and ideas about protecting and managing the state's natural water resources during upcoming WaterSC Listening Sessions. Public engagement is a critical component of WaterSC, a statewide initiative to help plan for the long-term preservation of South Carolina’s water resources. As demand for water use increases due to record-breaking economic development…WaterSC Listening Session - Florence
South Carolinians are asked to offer input and ideas about protecting and managing the state's natural water resources during upcoming WaterSC Listening Sessions. Public engagement is a critical component of WaterSC, a statewide initiative to help plan for the long-term preservation of South Carolina’s water resources. As demand for water use increases due to record-breaking economic development…WaterSC Listening Session - Greenville
South Carolinians are asked to offer input and ideas about protecting and managing the state's natural water resources during upcoming WaterSC Listening Sessions. Public engagement is a critical component of WaterSC, a statewide initiative to help plan for the long-term preservation of South Carolina’s water resources. As demand for water use increases due to record-breaking economic development…‘Every Day is Earth Day’: S.C. Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) Encourages South Carolinians to Celebrate SC’s Natural Environment this Earth Month
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 3, 2025 COLUMBIA, S.C. — April is Earth Month, and the S.C. Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) urges residents to recognize and celebrate how invaluable South Carolina’s natural environment is to those who live, work and play in the Palmetto State. SCDES employees work every day to protect the state’s air, land, water, and coastal resources for the benefit…, said Myra Reece, SCDES Interim Director., “Anyone can help support our mission of preserving and protecting a clean, thriving environment by performing volunteer work, taking time to ensure they’re recycling right, or even by simply planting a native tree or flower.” SCDES’s team of environmental stewards are scientists, engineers, chemists, biologists, geologists, hydrogeologists, meteorologists, health physicists and more – all…, Science, Service and Sustainability., The agency’s five bureaus support a healthy, resilient environment every day: , Bureau of Air Quality:, protects the air we breathe by ensuring regulated industries comply with state and federal air quality standards, implementing air quality strategies, and joining partners on local air quality awareness efforts. , Bureau of Coastal Management:, helps ensure the appropriate use, development and conservation of the coastal environment by overseeing direct permitting of activities within the state's critical areas and working to preserve the state’s natural, historic and cultural coastal resources. , Bureau of Land and Waste Management:, helps protect land resources by overseeing certain mining and solid waste activities as well as the redevelopment of contaminated industrial sites, supporting recycling and food waste reduction goals, and ensuring the proper handling of hazardous waste, among other important responsibilities. , Bureau of Regional and Laboratory Services:, safeguards the environment by responding to chemical spills and contaminant releases, permitting septic system installations, sampling and monitoring ambient air and water, and investigating environmental concerns. , Bureau of Water:, preserves the state’s water resources by developing and enforcing state water quality standards, overseeing the compliance of drinking water providers, and implementing groundwater protection programs, among many other responsibilities. “For us at SCDES, every day is Earth Day,”, Reece said., “We encourage South Carolinians to consider Earth Month and Earth Day as calls to action to be a positive force in environmental protection within their communities.” Opportunities to support Earth Month and Earth Day include: , Volunteer with, Adopt-a-Stream:, Learn how to help monitor the quality of South Carolina's waterways at free workshops., Volunteer with, Adopt-a-Beach:, Organize and participate in beach cleanups and provide marine debris collection data using the MyCoast South Carolina reporting tool., Make sure you Recycle Right:, Download the free RecycleRightSC app to learn what, where and how to recycle all sorts of materials., Help prevent food waste:, Food is the No. 1 item Americans throw away. Visit Don't Waste Food SC to learn food waste prevention tips., Plant native trees and flowers:, Native plants are the building blocks for a healthy environment. Learn more about South Carolina native plants, trees and flowers from the South Carolina Native Plant Society., Participate in a litter clean-up event:, PalmettoPride, South Carolina’s leading anti-litter organization, is organizing the SC Sweep from April 25 – May 4, 2025., Start a community garden:, The only thing better than growing your own produce is sharing it with others. Learn how to start a community garden in your neighborhood with this free resource from Clemson Cooperative Extension., Get into nature at your local state park:, Spend a day surrounded in nature to realize just how valuable our state's greenspaces are, and check out upcoming Earth Day or clean-up events at your local state park at southcarolinaparks.com. Learn more at des.sc.gov/EarthDay and follow the S.C. Department of Environmental Services on social media:, @SouthCarolinaDES, on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube and, @SC_EnvServices, on X. ###