State Implementation Plan (SIP)
The State Implementation Plan (SIP) is developed to show how a state will meet the, National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), for six common pollutants, called ", criteria pollutants, ," as set forth by the, Clean Air Act, . A SIP is the accumulated record of many documents that form a blueprint and timeline for the state's plans to assure compliance with the NAAQS for criteria pollutants (carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, lead, and particulate matter), as outlined in the Clean Air Act. SIPs include, among other things, control plans, regulations, inventories of emissions within the state,…, EPA's SIP webpage, . South Carolina's SIP includes the initial SIP, which was submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1972, and the accumulated record of its amendments. These amendments, going back to 1973, along with the original SIP, constitute South Carolina's SIP. Though there are many amendments, there is only one South Carolina SIP. SCDES submits amendments to the EPA, and after…, Federal Register, . Possible proposed actions include approval, disapproval, partial approval, conditional approval, and a direct final rule. Following a review of the comments, the EPA issues a final rule on the amendments. The EPA memoranda that guide the SIP review process include a, 1992 memorandum, and, April , and, November, 2011 memoranda. The EPA maintains approvals of all states' SIPs in the, Code of Federal Regulations, . South Carolina's is at, 40 CFR Part 52, Approval of Implementation Plans, Subpart PP, South Carolina, ., What's in the SIP?, Several individual elements can make up the state's complete "SIP." There are many different components of the SIP, including: Infrastructure SIP elements Nonattainment SIP elements Attainment Demonstrations Maintenance Plans Section 111(d)/129 Plans, Infrastructure State Implementation Plan (SIP), Sections 110(a)(1) and (2) of the Clean Air Act, require all states to submit plan elements to provide for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of the, NAAQS, . Sections 110(a)(1) and (2) further require states to address basic SIP requirements, including but not limited to the following elements: emissions limits and other control measures, ambient air quality monitoring, a program for the enforcement of control measures, adequate resources to implement the SIP, and public notification and government consultation. These elements are commonly called "…, EPA's Infrastructure SIP webpage, ., Nonattainment SIP elements, A nonattainment plan is the specific SIP plan element designed to address a particular area in the state that has been designated as nonattainment for a standard. Once nonattainment designations take effect, the state has three years to develop a nonattainment SIP revision outlining how a particular area will attain and maintain the standards by reducing air pollutant emissions in that area. The…, York County part of the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill NC-SC nonattainment, area for the 2008 Ozone NAAQS. On August 22, 2014, the Department submitted a, Marginal Nonattainment Area SIP, to meet the requirements for the York County portion of the Charlotte-Rock Hill NC-SC 8-hour Ozone Nonattainment Area, for the 2008 NAAQS ozone standards. This SIP certifies that each Clean Air Act 182(a) marginal area requirement has been met, to include an emissions inventory. On April 17, 2015, DHEC submitted a, SIP Package, request to redesignate the York nonattainment area to attainment. A, Notice of Final Amendment, to the Air Quality SIP was published in the State Register on April 24, 2015. This action is due to the latest ozone monitoring data that show all monitors in and near the nonattainment area to have 2014 design values lower than the 2008 NAAQS (0.075 ppm.) A public hearing was held March 30, 2015. No comments, written or oral, were received from the public. On December 11, 2015 the EPA approved…, 76865, ) and the redesignation to attainment became effective on January 11, 2016. The Clean Air Act also requires states with areas designated as nonattainment areas for Ozone(O 3 ), carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM 10 and PM 2.5 ), or nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) to demonstrate that any transportation plans, programs, and projects planned for the area are consistent with the state's air…, Transportation Conformity, ., Attainment Demonstrations, The Clean Air Act requires that states submit attainment demonstrations for nonattainment areas to show that the area will attain and can continue to attain the NAAQS for which it was in nonattainment., Maintenance Plans, An area that was once designated as nonattainment, but has been redesignated as attainment, must submit a maintenance plan, as required by section 175A of the Clean Air Act. South Carolina has submitted maintenance plans for two areas of the state, Cherokee County and the York County portion of the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill NC-SC nonattainment area., Section 111(d)/129 Plans, Section 129 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) regulates solid waste combustion sources, such as incinerators. Section 111 of the CAA requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue "Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources" (NSPS). Within one year of when EPA issues NSPS rules for solid waste combustion sources, Section 111(d)/129 requires plans from states, commonly called "…, Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incinerator (CISWI) Rule, and SCDES is currently updating this plan due to recent changes in the federal CISWI rule.Delavan Spray Technologies Site
Sources of Air Pollution
Need to Report an Environmental Concern?, Access our online complaint system, which will help direct you to the most appropriate authority for your issue. , Air pollution can take many forms, all of which can cause harm to our health and our environment. SCDES monitors air pollution in South Carolina, and part of that process involves identifying the sources of pollution in the air we breathe. About 75 percent of air pollution originates from human-made sources, and their emissions are controlled through the federal Clean Air Act and individual state…, Mobile, ,, Nonpoint, , and, Point, ., Mobile Sources of Air Pollution, Mobile Sources, include vehicles (such as cars, trucks and buses) and off-road equipment (such as boats, airplanes, lawn mowers, leaf blowers, and other agricultural and construction equipment). Bus and car lines around schools, gas-operated equipment used to maintain your yard, and gasoline and oil spills on the roads can all contribute significant pollution to the air. Running vehicles and equipment generate…, carbon monoxide (CO), ,, particulate matter (PM), ,, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), , and, Volatile Organic Compounds, (VOC), , which are also known as Hydrocarbons. They also greatly contribute to the formation of, ground-level ozone, . According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than 200 million vehicles driving on U.S. highways contribute 77 percent of total carbon monoxide (CO) and 45 percent of nitrogen oxides (NOx) in our air., Nonpoint Sources of Air Pollution, Nonpoint Sources, include small pollution sources like dry cleaners, gas stations, and auto body paint shops. They also include sources like heating and cooling units, fireplaces, paints and coatings in buildings, and even your neighborhood's barbecue grills. Waste disposal in the form of open burning, landfills, and wastewater treatment are significant area sources. There are few nonpoint source specific…, particulate matter (PM), emissions, which is higher than point or mobile sources. They also emit Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) (also known as hydrocarbons) and, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), emissions, which contribute to the formation of, ground-level ozone, ., Point Sources of Air Pollution, Point Sources, include major industrial facilities like chemical plants, steel mills, manufacturing plants, power plants, and hazardous waste incinerators. In South Carolina, the Bureau of Air Quality (BAQ) uses a, permitting, process to monitor point source air pollution. Safe limits and conditions are established for a business, facility, or industry that has an air permit, requiring regular reporting of the amount of air pollutants they use, produce, or store. BAQ inspectors are also sent to these facilities to assess compliance with their air permit's conditions. If the permit conditions are not met, State and…National Battery Day: South Carolinians Reminded to ‘Be Battery Smart’ About Lithium-Ion Battery Safety
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 18, 2026 COLUMBIA, S.C. — As February 18 is recognized as National Battery Day, the S.C. Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) urges residents to learn about the risks associated with common household batteries. Lithium-ion batteries power more household devices than ever before — from phones and laptops to toys, tools and electric scooters, —, which is why SCDES reminds residents to, “Take Charge! Be Battery Smart, ". Launched in la, te 2023 through a partnership with the Recycled Materials Association (ReMA), the, Take Charge! Be Battery Smart, public education campaign focuses on battery safety. When damaged, overheated, improperly charged or discarded incorrectly, lithium-ion batteries can ignite, explode or cause fast-moving fires that are difficult to extinguish. Fire officials across South Carolina continue to report an increase in battery-related fires, many tied to improper storage or disposal. South Carolina State Fire Marshal…, Jones said., “Following the manufacturer’s instructions for using, charging, storing, maintaining and disposing of lithium-ion batteries — along with having working smoke alarms in your home — can make the difference between a close call and a tragedy, helping keep South Carolina families safe.” Lithium-ion batteries are commonly found in everyday household items, including rechargeable toys, gaming devices…, Store lithium-ion batteries safely., Keep devices and spare batteries away from heat sources, direct sunlight, and flammable materials. Avoid charging devices on beds, couches, or near children’s sleeping areas. , Protect children and pets., Keep batteries — especially damaged or loose ones — out of reach. Chewed or punctured batteries can spark fires or release hazardous chemicals. , Never throw batteries in the trash., Lithium-ion batteries should never be placed in household garbage or curbside recycling bins, where they pose a serious fire risk to collection trucks, recycling facilities, and landfills. Horry County Fire Rescue Captain and Fire Investigator Matt Rice said lithium-ion battery fires are a recurring issue locally, often tied to incompatible batteries and chargers (, video message from Cpt. Rice is available at, youtube.com/@southcarolinade, s ). “Every year in Horry County, we respond to multiple lithium-ion battery fires and failures,”, Rice said., “Many of these incidents involve cheap, knockoff batteries or chargers that aren’t compatible with the device. Using manufacturer-approved batteries and chargers, monitoring devices while they charge, and avoiding overcharging. If a battery begins to fail or produce smoke, move away and call 911 immediately, as the chemical smoke can be extremely dangerous to breathe.” In addition to fire…, des.sc.gov/recyclerightsc, and, BeBatterySmart.com., ### , A recording of an SCDES Media Briefing held Feb. 17, 2026, about National Battery Day and the Take Charge! Be Battery Smart campaign is available at, youtube.com/@southcarolinades, .Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) Grant Program
Florence County Recycling Locations
Florence County, County Recycling Coordinator:, Kayla Wilson , Physical and Mailing Address:, 180 North Irby Street, MSC-G, Florence, SC 29501 , Hours:, Monday - Friday 8:30 am – 5:00 pm , Fax:, (843) 292-1607 , Waste Management:, (843) 413-3013 or (843) 413-3001 , Public Works:, (843) 665-3050 (Emergency telephone number for weekends & Holidays) , Staffed County Drop-Off Sites, Site 1 - Greenwood:, 2325 Carnell Drive, Florence 29505, Site 2 - Airport:, 708 South Stadium Road, Florence 29506, Site 3 - Quinby:, 1508 East Marion Highway, Florence 29506, Site 4 - Timmonsville:, 1840 S Warren Street, Timmonsville 29161, Site 5 - Pamplico:, 411 South Oak Street, Pamplico 29583, Site 6 - Coward:, 3315 US 52 Highway, Coward 29530, Site 7 - Lake City:, 1228 East Main Street, Lake City 29560, Site 8 - Landfill:, 2616 Papermill Road, Florence 29506, Site 9 - Effingham:, 6760 Friendfield Rd, Effingham 29541, Site 10 - Hannah:, 3648 Tree Haven, Pamplico 29583, Site 11 - Paul Jones:, 4807 Buddy's Lane, Effingham 29541, Site 12 - Ebenezer:, 359 South Ebenezer Rd, Florence 29501, Site 13 - Olanta:, 4212 Chandler Rd, Olanta 29114, Site 14 - Johnsonville:, 230 W Egg Farm Rd, Johnsonville 29555, Site 15 - Cussac:, 5169 Sardis Highway, Timmonsville 29161, Hours for all sites:, Monday - Saturday, 7AM - 7PM CLOSED Sunday, SITES COLLECT:, Aluminum (cans, pans, foil, trays) Appliances, large (refrigerators, washers, dryers) Cardboard Farmer oil (, up to 55 gallons; ONLY ACCEPTED, at Sites 7 and 9) Household electronics (desktop computers, laptops, notebook computers, monitors, televisions, printers;, ONLY ACCEPTED, at Sites 7, 9, 12 and 14) Mixed paper (newspaper, inserts, office paper, magazines) Oil/gasoline mixtures (, ONLY ACCEPTED, at Site 12) Plastic bottles, jugs, and jars (#1 and #2) Scrap metal Steel cans Tires (, NOT ACCEPTED, at Sites 8, 10 and 15) Used motor oil, filters, and bottles, **Commercial tires accepted at: 7205 Don McCain Drive, Florence, SC 29506., Back to Top, City of Florence, Physical and Mailing Address:, 1440 McCurdy Road, Florence, SC 29506 , Phone:, (843) 665-3236 , Fax:, (843) 665-3200 , Website:, City of Florence Sanitation Division, Curbside Collection, Aluminum (cans, foil) Cardboard Mixed paper (office paper, newspaper and inserts, magazines) Plastic bottles, jugs and jars (#1 and #2) Telephone books Back to Top, Additional Used Motor Oil Collection Sites, Florence, City Fire Station 4, , 2160 West Palmetto Street, Florence 29501 (also accepts used oil filters), City Fire Station 3, ,1321 South Edisto Drive, Florence 29505 (also accepts used oil filters), City Fire Station 2, , 250 East Marion Street, Florence 29506 (also accepts used oil filters), Advance Auto, , 860 South Irby Street, Florence 29501, Advance Auto, , 1802 West Evans Street, Florence 29501, Advance Auto, , 3217 West Palmetto Street, Florence 29501, Auto Zone, , 830 South Irby Street, Florence 29501, Jiffy Lube, , 2189 West Evans Street, Florence 29501, Jiffy Lube, , 815 South Irby Street, Florence 29501, Jiffy Lube, , 3206 Pine Needles Road, Florence 29501, Tractor Supply Company, , 2590 South Irby Street, Florence 29501, Walmart Tire and Lube Express Center, , 230 North Beltline Drive, Florence 29501, Walmart Tire and Lube Express Center, , 2014 South Irby Street, Florence 29501, Lake City, Advance Auto, , 245 North Ron McNair Boulevard, Lake City 29560, Auto Zone, , 215 South Ron McNair Boulevard, Lake City 29560 Back to TopRegulatory Determinations
Below are some of the memorandums, determinations, and summaries that the Asbestos section has distributed concerning Regulation 61-86.1, Standards of Performance for Asbestos Projects (pdf) . Memorandum - Asbestos Response to Hurricane Florence Applicability of Federal and State Asbestos Regulations to Condominiums (pdf) Asbestos Cementitious Floor Tiles (pdf) Asbestos Containing Floor Mastic (…, Contact, Asbestos Section (803) 898-4289Hazardous Waste Contingency Fund Annual Reports
FY08 Hazardous Waste Contingency Fund Annual Report FY09 Hazardous Waste Contingency Fund Annual Report FY10 Hazardous Waste Contingency Fund Annual Report FY11 Hazardous Waste Contingency Fund Annual Report FY12 Hazardous Waste Contingency Fund Annual Report FY13 Hazardous Waste Contingency Fund Annual Report FY14 Hazardous Waste Contingency Fund Annual Report FY15 Hazardous Waste Contingency…See It, Report It
See It, Report It banner, Illegal dumping of waste tires is a crime., It creates potential human health and safety as well as environmental risks to South Carolina communities. Consider: Tire piles collect rainwater and provide a breeding ground for , mosquitoes, that transmit West Nile Virus and other illnesses. Stored outside or illegally dumped, tires can leach toxic chemicals that contaminate soil and water. Tire piles are a fire hazard. Scrap tires burn easily. Fires can be started intentionally or unintentionally, are extremely difficult to extinguish, and may burn or smolder for weeks or months. Fires generate oil that fouls soil and water and…, Do Your Part to Reduce Illegal Dumping, The "See It, Report It" campaign – developed in partnership by DES (formerly DHEC) and PalmettoPride – encourages residents to report illegal tire dumps in their communities quickly and anonymously. Residents can call PalmettoPride's Litter Busters Hot Line at , 1-877-7-LITTER, or use the , "Report a Litterbug", option online., All information is held in strict confidence and the caller's identity is not released., Another option for residents to report tire piles is to contact their , SCDES Regional Office, directly., Protect Your Property from Illegal Dumping, Landowners – by law – could be held liable for cleanup costs if the responsible party is not found. Given that, if you own property that is susceptible to illegal dumping you can take the following actions: Restrict access to your property with fencing, earthen berms, gates, etc.; Install surveillance cameras; Solicit support of neighbors or adjoining property owners to monitor suspicious…, palmettopride.org, .Wildfires
Smoke from wildfires can irritate the eyes and respiratory system, as well as aggravate or exacerbate chronic heart and lung diseases. This can be a nuisance for healthy people, but it can also make some pre-existing health conditions, like asthma and some heart or lung conditions, worse. Health and visibility impacts from smoke could be experienced in areas impacted by wildfires. Whether from…, Current Air Quality Data, AirNow.gov, General Information on Wildfires and Health, Wildfires and Wildfire Smoke Guidance (ASTHO) Wildfires Fact Sheet (CDC) Forest Fires and Respiratory Health Fact Sheet (American Lung Association) How Smoke From Fires Can Affect Your Health (EPA) Particulate Matter (EPA) Steps to take before, during, and after a wildfire (S.C. EMD), For Firefighters and Other Emergency Responders, SC Wildfire Statistics (S.C. Forestry Commission) Wildland Fire Chemicals (U.S. Forest Service), How Open Burning Can Lead to Wildfires, Fire and Open Burning Information (S.C. Forestry Commission) Open Burning (SCDES)