Permits & Regulations
Spare the Air Award Winners
The Spare the Air Awards is the Bureau of Air Quality’s program that awards those who are working towards improving air quality in South Carolina. This award program recognizes environmental leaders, such as schools, organizations, businesses, and individuals that are working on projects and initiatives to protect air quality in South Carolina. Promoting a healthy environment through air quality…Champions of the Environment
Now accepting grant applications--deadline is Sept. 15, 2026. , Online Application, A picture of students and a teach dressed in beekeeping gear, students sitting around a garden, students on a ladder beside a wood duck box, students testing a wind turbine, students working with plants in a greenhouse, students holding solar panels, and the Champions logo Grants up to $2,500 are available for your school's environmental education project! Hey, K-12 teachers! Your students…, Grant Winners page, . Champions of the Environment Coordinator:, Amy Ley, ,, , 803-898-4183, Graphic displaying sponsor logos for the Champions of the Environment program. The image includes text stating the program is sponsored by the SC Department of Environmental Services, Dominion Energy, and Sylvamo, with assistance from the Environmental Education Association of South Carolina. Below the text are four logos: the SC Department of Environmental Services logo featuring layered wave…Okatie Construction, LLC – Glover Plantation Mine
Confidentiality of Information
Please keep in mind that any information that you provide to SCDES may be released to the public upon request under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. If you believe that some or all of your information should be kept confidential, you should clearly identify the information as "confidential". If SCDES receives a request for public release of confidential information that you have submitted or…PFAS Soil Investigation - Black Creek Elementary School
Spare the Air
Spare the Air Logo, Spare the Air , SCDES Spare the Air is a statewide education and outreach campaign led by the Bureau of Air Quality that advances public health and environmental well-being by improving air quality across South Carolina. This campaign supports and promotes innovative projects, programs, and partnerships that aim to protect and enhance the air we breathe. Spare the Air provides local, state, and national…, Promote Sustainable Air Quality Initiatives:, Support projects and programs that improve air quality and can be replicated across communities., Educate and Raise Awareness:, Share knowledge, resources, and campaigns that motivate individuals and organizations to make informed decisions to protect air quality., Encourage Positive Behavioral Change:, Inspire actions that reduce pollution and improve air quality for all South Carolinians., Strengthen Partnerships:, Build and maintain collaborations across government agencies, communities, businesses, and nonprofits to maximize air quality improvements statewide. Through these efforts, BAQ Spare the Air works to ensure healthier environments, empower community leaders, and create a lasting impact on air quality for current and future generations.Okatie Construction, LLC – Glover Plantation Mine Public Meeting & Hearing
SCDES will hold a public hearing on September 10, 2026, at 7:00PM, to accept oral and written comments on the proposed mine. A public meeting will be held from 5:30PM until 7:00PM prior to the public hearing. These events will be held at Lakeside at Blue Heron (153 James L Taylor Drive, Ridgeland, SC 29936). Doors will open at 5:00PM to facilitate the sign-in process and provide an opportunity…Backups, Leaks and Odors
Signs of Septic System Failure , The two most obvious signs of septic system failure are sewage backing up into the house, or the ground surface above the drain field becoming saturated with wastewater. The likely culprits could be: Lack of maintenance - If solid waste builds up too high, it can be forced out of the tank and into the drainfield, where it clogs the gravel and soil. This can cause wastewater to back up or erupt…, What To Do, A septic contractor should be contacted as soon as possible to diagnose and fix the issue causing failure. You can find a septic contractor by using our SCDES OSWW Contractor map . If you start having plumbing issues in your home and the source of the issue cannot be diagnosed, it may be worth contacting a septic contractor to do an inspection and check for failures in your system. For more…, , When grass outlines the tank or drainfield, it's a sign of a leak or other problem., Your Legal Responsibility, If SCDES receives a complaint about a failing septic system or tracks a pollution issue to a septic tank, the owner will receive a notice telling them they are in violation of, Regulation 61-56, Onsite Wastewater Systems,, and must repair their failing septic tank system. S.C. Department of Environmental Control (SCDES) does not provide any funding or financing options for individual homeowners to help repair or replace failing septic systems or new home septic system installation., Save Money, Regularly inspecting your septic system and pumping (by, SCDES licensed septic system contractors or pumpers, ) are the best and cheapest way to keep your septic system in good working order., See our septic tank maintenance tips., Flooding - What to DoUST Current Certified Contractors
Below is a link to the current list of Class I certified contractors and Class II certified contractors. The certification requirements can be found at the regulation link below. The requirements of a Class I certified contractors include, but are not limited to, having a licensed professional engineer and/or professional geologist by the State of South Carolina on staff, plus the following…