BAQ Permitting: Contacts for Industry Sectors
If you do not see your sector below call 803-898-4123 and ask for the permit writer on call or email airpermitting@des.sc.gov . Permit Section Sector Contact Phone Email Metals and Chemicals Agricultural Products Wilson Pang, P.E. (803) 898-2813 Wilson.Pang@des.sc.gov Combustion and Waste Air Curtain Incinerators (ACIs) Tyler Dunlop (803) 898-0660 Tyler.dunlop@des.sc.gov Wood and Surface Coating…Watersheds Program
The SCDES Watersheds Program supports the goals of the Clean Water Act in the state’s eight major river basins: Savannah, Saluda, Edisto, Salkehatchie, Broad, Catawba, Santee, and Pee Dee. Through a non-regulatory approach, the program serves as a resource to stakeholders, providing technical support, water quality information, and grant programs.Watershed Planning
Nationwide Permits for Minor Projects
Nationwide Permits for Minor Projects , Nationwide permits (NWPs) are general permits issued by the Corps of Engineers on a nationwide basis to authorize minor activities with little delay or paperwork. These NWPs are issued for a category of activities when those activities are similar in nature. The NWPs help protect the aquatic environment and the public interest by providing incentives to reduce impacts on jurisdictional waters and…, 2026 Nationwide Permits Reissuance, On June 18, 2025, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) issued a, proposed rule, in the Federal Register that announced the reissuance of 56 existing NWPs and the proposal to issue one new NWP. One NWP is not proposed for reissuance. On January 8, 2026, the Corps published a, final rule, in the Federal Register. In that notice, the Charleston District denied the Section 401 Water Quality Certification (401 Certification) for NWPs 12, 14, 23, 29, 39, 44, 46, 57 and 58 as well as the Coastal Zone Consistency (CZC) for NWPs 14, 29, 39, 42, and 51. On March 24, 2026, the Department issued a, Department Decision, for a General State Certification to address the denied NWP. The General State Certification will streamline the certification process for projects that meet the general and special conditions outlined in the certification below. • , SCDES’s General State Certification for Nationwide Permits, • , Water Quality Certification Status List, • , Instructions for initiating the 401 Certification processEnforcement and Violations: Public Swimming Pools/Spas
Permitted Activities - Failure to get a Construction Permit prior to beginning construction of a public swimming pool/spa will result in a violation. Failure to get Operational Approval (including a piping inspection before completion of construction) prior to beginning operation of a public swimming pool/spa will result in a violation. Failure to get a Change Order Permit prior to making any…, Contact, Local SCDES Regional Offices Kyndall Wallace , Drinking Water & Recreational Waters Protection Division, (803) 898-4255Aquatic Nuisance Plants
Stop the Hitchhikers banner, Report Nuisance Plants: Click Here, Help keep South Carolina waters clean!, Behind habit destruction, the No. 1 reason for threatened and endangered species is loss caused by Introduced Invasive Species!, Introduced species are a greater threat to native biodiversity than pollution, harvest, and disease combined. More than 400 of the over 1,300 species currently protected under the Endangered Species Act, and more than 180 candidate species for listing are considered to be at risk at least partly due to displacement by, competition with, and predation by invasive species. Invasive species are a…, Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS), . Estuarine and marine environments are also impacted by aquatic nuisance species; however, the focus of this section is on freshwater species. In South Carolina, the principal focus of managing AIS has been directed at nuisance aquatic plants, exotic mussels, and exotic fishes. Historically, non-native species have been introduced to South Carolina through direct stocking, aquascaping, shipping…Operating Permits (Air)
Once a construction permit has been obtained and construction completed, a facility must request an operating permit. Operating permits are a compilation of facility-wide equipment, emissions limitations, record keeping and reporting requirements, including specific requirements from construction permit(s). The operating permit is revised as facilities make changes such as equipment replacement,…, State Minor Operating Permit, The state minor source program regulates smaller sources of air pollution. A minor source facility potentially emits less than 100 tons per year (TPY) of any criteria pollutant (CO, PM10, PM2.5, NOX, SO2, Pb, VOCs) and less than 10 TPY of any single hazardous air pollutant (HAP) or less than 25 TPY of combined HAPs., Conditional Major Operating Permit, Facilities that meet the definition of a major source (see Title V section) may request a federally enforceable conditional major operating permit to limit potential emissions to minor source thresholds., Title V Operating Permit (Major Source), This major source operating permit program regulates larger sources of air pollution. A Title V operating permit is a comprehensive and federally enforceable operating permit that requires U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) review and a public comment period before issuance. A major source facility potentially emits 100 tons per year (TPY) or more of any criteria pollutant (CO, PM10, PM2.…, Title V Modifications, Administrative Amendment Administrative Amendment (AA) permit modifications are typically requested for incorporating changes into the Title V Operating permit for typographical errors, more frequent monitoring or reporting, transfer of ownership, change of name or similar administrative change at the facility. Minor Modification Minor Modification (MM) permit modifications are typically…, (, S.C. Regulation 61-62.70.7(e)(5)), , are changes that contravene an express permit term. Such changes do not include changes that would violate applicable requirements or contravene federally enforceable permit terms and conditions that are monitoring (including test methods), recordkeeping, reporting, or compliance certification requirements. The facility gives a 7-day advance notice to BAQ and the EPA prior to operating the change…, Requesting an Operating Permit, Fill out the appropriate Operating Permit Application Form in ePermitting , along with all information required by the form or form instructions., Public Notice Period and EPA Review, Public Notice (30 days) is required for the following: Conditional Major when updating or establishing new federally enforceable limit(s) Title V New Renewal Significant Modification EPA Review (45 days) is required for the following: Title V New Renewal Significant Modification Minor Modifications, Application and Emission Fee, Application Fees: None Annual Emissions Fees: Visit our Emissions Inventory section to see Emissions Fee Chart.Home
Technical Management
What Does the Technical Management Section (TMS) Look for in Reporting?, The TMS looks for four basic elements in reporting: timeliness, completeness, accuracy, and compliance status., Timeliness, - Most periodic reports must be postmarked no later than 30 days after the end of the reporting period. TVACC's must be postmarked no later than 45 days after the end of the reporting period., Completeness, - The facility must submit all of the data required by the permit condition, in the correct format., Accuracy, - Information must be correct and reasonable. Checks are made for proper units, rolling sum vs. rolling average, correct calculations, and that the information covers the proper time period., Compliance Status, - Reported information must be in compliance with the permitted emission limits, applicable regulations, and standards. It is important for a facility to read their permit carefully and understand the reporting requirements. In addition to the listed reporting requirements in the permit, the TMS needs to know how all numbers are derived. For example, in VOC/HAP reports, facilities should include…, Guidance Documents, Title V Documents & Reports - Responsible Official Certification Requirements (pdf) Guidance Document for Title V Annual Compliance Certification Form 3650 (pdf) 3650 TVACC Form (pdf) Example of Title V Annual Compliance Certification Form 3650 (pdf) Fuel Oil Certification Guidance (8/12/2004) (pdf) 12 Month Rolling Sums Fact Sheet (pdf), Compliance Assistance Tools, Emission Calculators, Reporting, and Recordkeeping Tools, SCDES Technical Management Contacts , Counties, Contact, Phone, Email, Abbeville, Aiken, Anderson, Calhoun, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, Saluda Anthony Keeler (803) 898-3848 Anthony.Keeler@des.sc.gov Fairfield, Lexington, Newberry, Richland, Portable Sources Brittany Staples (803) 898-3891 Brittany.Staples@des.sc.gov Cherokee, Chester, Lancaster, Spartanburg, Union, York Elizabeth Herring (803) 898-4823 Elizabeth.Herring@des.sc.gov Berkeley, Charleston…Water Quality Standards
Contact, If you have any questions or comments regarding South Carolina’s Water Quality Standards, please contact, wqs@des.sc.gov, .