Additional Environmental Funding Opportunities
SCDES's Breathe Better (B2) Program - An anti-idling, clean air education program. The goal is to help protect public health and improve air quality by reducing harmful vehicle emissions around school campuses and other public spaces. For information on the Air Quality Flag Program, check out the Flag Program website . SCDES's Recycling Education Grant Program - Promotes awareness of solid waste…Air Quality Coalitions
Air Quality Coalitions , Air Quality Coalitions are partnerships of local stakeholders across South Carolina working collaboratively to improve and protect air quality. The coalitions support the development and implementation of voluntary, community-based actions that reduce air pollution and emissions at the local level. By encouraging proactive engagement from local governments, organizations, and community partners,…, Strategic Planning Manager, City of Augusta, Georgia, (706) 821-1810 BCDCOG Clean Air and Climate Coalition Nina Miller ,, Regional Planner, Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester COG, (843) 529-2087 Catawba Air Quality Coalition Stephen Allen ,, Senior Planner, Catawba Regional COG, (843) 327-9041 Central Midlands Air Partnership The Central Midlands Council of Governments (CMCOG) works on regional planning and technical assistance in Richland, Lexington, Newberry and Fairfield counties. CMCOG environmental planning includes air & water pollution, land use, biodiversity, and climate change. Jory Fleming ,, Program Manager, Regional Environmental Planning - Central Midlands COG, (803) 898-4524 Upstate Air Quality Advisory Committee Dean Hybl ,, Executive Director, Ten at the Top, (864) 283-0345 Waccamaw Air Coalition Chelsea Barfield ,, Associate Planner, Waccamaw Regional COG, (843) 436-6129 Map of South Carolina imageParker's Kitchen Cooks Crossroads Public Meeting & Hearing
The S.C. Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) is seeking input on the proposed application from Drayton-Parker Companies, LLC to disturb 6.2 acres of land to facilitate construction of a new 6,344 SF convenience store with ten multiple product dispensers (fuel pumps) under a hard canopy, with associated parking. SCDES invites interested people to an informational session, public hearing,…SRF Call for Projects
Dam Owner Resources
To promote teamwork between state regulators and dam owners, the Dam Safety Program would like to ensure that high-quality educational resources are available to everyone interested in dams and dam safety. The program hosts occasional workshops and technical training sessions for dam owners and engineers and has partnered with other dam safety organizations to provide resources to assist those…, Dam Owner Newsletters and Information Bulletins, Please find below an archive of the Dam Safety Program's annual newsletters and periodic technical bulletins for dam owners. These documents cover a range of topics from suggested maintenance items, changes in the dam safety program, contacts for regional dam safety engineers, and much more. August 2025 Dams Newsletter June 2024 Dams Newsletter June 2023 Dams Newsletter June 2022 Dams Newsletter…, Dam Owner Workshop, In November of 2018, the Dam Safety Program partnered with the Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) to host and produce a Dam Owner’s Workshop specifically tailored towards South Carolina dams and dam owners. Sessions were recorded and have been uploaded for easy viewing on the SCDES YouTube channel. The recorded sections this Workshop covered are below. Each link will take you to a…, Clemson Extension Dam Owners Course, The Dam Safety Program partnered with the Clemson Extension, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Clemson Online to develop 'Dam Ownership in SC' , a free, six-week self paced online class to assist dam owners in learning the basics of dams and how to inspect, maintain, and repair them. It is designed to be useful to the owners of dams regulated by the state Dam Safety Program…, ASDSO Dam Owners Academy Courses, The Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) has just launched a Dam Owners Academy, which offers free-of-charge, web-based, self-paced training courses about the basics of dam awareness, operations, and maintenance, created specifically for a non-engineering audience. ASDSO is a national organization devoted to lowering the risk of dam failures through education, support for state dam…, 'Dams & Inundations' App, The Dam Safety Program and SCDES Geographic Information System (GIS) staff jointly developed a Dams & Inundations App displaying all regulated dams and potentially inundated areas in the event of dam failure. This application is available to the public and is used by the Dam Safety Program and emergency management officials during dam emergencies to quickly locate and assess potential…, Guidance for Homeowners/Property Owners Associations That Are Dam Owners, The Dam Safety Program partnered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to develop a targeted educational and training course for South Carolina Homeowner/Property Owners Associations that own dams. This course was created because of the unique difficulties these organizations have faced in repairing and rebuilding their dams after frequent recent major storm events. This online…, Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO), The Association of State Dam Safety Officials partners with state dam safety programs with the mission of “improving the condition and safety of dams through education, support of state programs, and fostering a unified dam safety community.” ASDSO provides a resource library that to the public free of charge that can be accessed at the ASDSO Resource Center for Dam Owners . Information is…, Recommended Resources, Trees & Brush on Dams Grass & Ground Cover for Earthen Dams Causes of Failure in Earthen Dams How to Procure the Services of an Engineer The ASDSO YouTube Channel also has many free and informational videos on a variety of topics Instructional Video on how to install a temporary siphon, Other Resources, FEMA Dam Safety Awareness Page FEMA – Pocket Safety Guide for Dams and Impoundments ASDSO & FEMA – Living Near DamsSouth Carolina Dock Stakeholder Workgroup
Marine Debris
Marine debris is any solid, man-made product or material that ends up in our coastal environments. These materials may be deliberately or accidentally released. In either case, marine debris negatively impacts the environment, wildlife, economies, and human health and safety. Marine debris doesn't always originate on the coast. Storm drains and waterways sweep litter from inland areas, like…, Plastics:, water bottles, toys, grocery bags, food wrappers, cigarette butts, and more., Microplastics:, very small (< 5mm in size) pieces of plastic that come from larger plastics breaking down, or materials like microfibers from synthetic clothing and microbeads used in some cosmetics., Derelict Fishing Gear:, nets, lines, crab pots, and other fishing equipment that has been lost, abandoned, or discarded., Abandoned and Derelict Vessels, Other:, glass bottles, metal cans, clothing, construction materials, balloons, and fireworks. plastic bag on beach Depending on the material, some debris can take years or even centuries to break down in ocean and coastal waters, while, plastic items may never fully degrade in the marine environment, ., Marine Debris Impacts, Ecosystems and Economies Marine animals, including endangered and commercially valuable species, die every year due to marine debris ingestion and entanglement. Sea turtles and dolphins may eat floating plastic bags, mistaking them for jellyfish. Bottle caps and other plastic fragments have been found in the stomachs of seabirds. Once ingested, plastic debris can cause suffocation, gastric…, contaminating our seafood, . Learn more about the potential health impacts of microplastics in seafood and current research on this topic from the, NOAA Marine Debris Program, ., What SCDES BCM is Doing, SCDES BCM is working to reduce marine debris through prevention and removal programs. Learn more about , Abandoned and Derelict Vessels, and report abandoned boats in coastal South Carolina by using SCDES’s, MyCoast South Carolina, application. Volunteer to help keep South Carolina beaches clean through the , Adopt-A-Beach, program and report your data in , MyCoast South Carolina, ., What You Can Do, Reduce the amount of plastic you take to the beach (bags, food wrappers, utensils, etc.). Choose reusable items like "green" grocery bags and water bottles, and limit single-use items. When you leave the beach take all toys, garbage, and recycling with you. Don't litter, and, recycle, whenever possible. If you smoke, please dispose of cigarette butts in a proper receptacle. Organize or participate in a local, beach cleanup, or river sweep., Recycle monofilament fishing line, ., Report or donate old crab traps to SCDNR, ., Report abandoned or derelict boats, .South Carolina Mining Council
Origin and Composition, The Mining Council, established with the enactment of Section 48-21-20 of the South Carolina Code of Laws 1976, as amended, resides in the office of the Governor and acts as an advisory body to the Governor in considering issues relating to mining. The Council considers appeals on decisions made by the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) regarding the enforcement of the…, The Council is composed of 11 members and represents diverse interests and responsibilities that provide a wide range of perspectives regarding mining issues. The member positions are: The State Geologist; The Secretary of Commerce or his/her Designee; Three (3) members, appointed by the Governor, as representatives of mining industries; Three (3) members, appointed by the Governor, as…, Mission, The Mining Council's mission is to improve the quality of life of the citizens of South Carolina by promoting the conservation and wise use of mineral resources within the state., Objectives, To advise the Governor, in accordance with his responsibilities under Article IV, 48-21-10 regarding: Issues relating to mining. Effects of mining operations on the environment. Land reclamation. The law as it relates to the Interstate Mining Compact Commission. Communication of related matters. Cooperation with the federal government. Consultation with other Interstate Mining Compact Commission…, Mining Council Members as of July 2025, Council Members, Council Position, Affiliation, Team Expiration, Heath Hanna Chairman Mining Industry 06/30/2028 Rebecca M. Collins Vice Chairman Mining Industry 06/30/2024 C. Scott Howard S. C. Geologic Survey Secretary State Geologist Co-terminus with Office William Jackson Member Department of Commerce Co-terminus with Gov. Blake Banks Member Mining Industry 06/30/2028 Thomas A. Limehouse, Jr., Esquire Member Governors Rep., Interstate Mining Compact…, Correspondence to the Council can be sent to the Clerk of the Council, Jennifer Hyman at , Jennifer.Hyman@des.sc.gov, , 803-898-3357, or 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201., Appeals Committee , Blake Banks ۰ Heath Hanna ۰ Chad Johnston, Appeals Committee Alternates , Rebecca Collins ۰ Mihir Mehta, Interstate Mining Compact Commission, The enabling legislation creating the Mining Council established South Carolina as a member of the Interstate Mining Compact Commission (IMCC). The IMCC, a multi-state governmental agency/organization, represents the natural resource interests of its member states. First envisioned in 1964, the Commission came into existence in 1970 with the entry of its first four states. Since that time,…What Can I Recycle?
What Can I Recycle?, Recycling is simple and convenient in South Carolina. Each of the state's 46 counties has a residential recycling program. Overall, there are 60-plus curbside programs, nearly 600 drop-off centers, and more than 900 collection sites for do-it-yourself (DIY) oil changers. Almost all recycling programs accept aluminum and steel cans, plastic bottles, paper, and cardboard. The items listed below…, RecycleHereSC, for more information on recycling in your area.Septic Tanks