Friable and Non-Friable Asbestos-Containing Materials
Friable Asbestos-Containing Materials, If friable asbestos-containing materials (e.g., pipe insulation) are present, they must be removed prior to being disturbed during renovation or demolition activities. Removal (abatement) must be performed by trained, licensed persons using procedures detailed in State and Federal regulations. A project design must be prepared for each asbestos abatement project involving the abatement of greater…, Contact: , Asbestos Section , (803) 898-4289, Non-Friable Asbestos-Containing Materials, Please note that, when it can reasonably be expected that non-friable materials will become friable during removal, these materials must be considered friable from the beginning. If non-friable Asbestos-Containing Materials (ACM) become friable during an abatement project, the removal becomes subject to the same requirements as friable materials, including training, licensing, notification, and…, NOTE: The use of water is only a control measure and by no means prevents a material from becoming friable., Once removed, materials may be placed in 6-mil polyethylene bags or drums or wrapped with 6-mil polyethylene sheeting. Additional water may be added to ensure thorough wetting, but do not add so much that the bag or wrapping breaks when lifted. Debris already on the ground should be wet and either collected manually or gathered with a shovel and bagged for disposal. These materials can be…, DANGER - CONTAINS ASBESTOS FIBERS - AVOID CREATING DUST - CANCER AND LUNG DISEASE HAZARD., Materials should be taken to a landfill as soon as possible but may be stored temporarily in a , secure , area subject to Departmental approval. Transport the materials so as to prevent them from leaking, spilling, or blowing off the vehicle. You should contact the landfill directly to make sure it will accept the material. You must obtain written approval from SCDES in advance for the disposal. You can get this approval by writing to the following address:, South Carolina Department of Environmental Services, Attn: Bureau of Air Quality/Asbestos Section, 2600 Bull Street Columbia, SC 29201, Be sure to include the following: the address where the material is to be removed; a brief description of the content (cement-like tiles, asphaltic shingles, etc.); the volume of waste in cubic yards or the area in square feet of material removed, and; the name and location of the landfill that has agreed to accept the waste., Please remember to include your name, return address, and phone number., DO NOT BURN OR RECYCLE , any asbestos-containing or asbestos-contaminated materials. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has rules for workers affected by asbestos-containing materials. These rules must be complied with by all contractors and facility owners and include specific work practices, respiratory protection, and asbestos training requirements, , even for activities involving only non-friable asbestos-containing materials. , Contact the Department of Labor at , (803) 896-7665, for details., Please contact SCDES at , (803) 898-4289, if you need additional information or assistance regarding asbestos or asbestos removal requirements or regulations.Building Inspections
Before a facility or a portion of a facility is renovated or demolished, the owner/operator of the facility or renovation or demolition activity must ensure that the facility or portion of the facility being renovated or demolished has been thoroughly inspected for the presence of asbestos. The inspection must be performed by a person who has been trained and licensed as an Asbestos Building…, (Note: , " BUILDING INSPECTIONS ", can be consulted for a detailed explanation of the aforementioned sampling and reporting protocols.), A building inspection will only be acceptable if performed, within three years , prior to the demolition or renovation. If an inspection report is more than three years old, then it must be confirmed and verified by a licensed Asbestos Building Inspector or Management Planner., Building Inspection Report Directions , (pdf) As required by the National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) and Regulation 61-86.1, an owner/operator shall ensure that a building inspection, to detect the presence of asbestos-containing material (ACM), has been performed prior to any renovation or demolition activity at a regulated facility. Under Regulation 61-86.1, Section VI.A.6., an inspection cannot have been…, 40 CFR 763.86 , in determining sampling locations and the number of representative samples to be collected. An inspection shall include samples from suspect friable and non-friable ACM on interior and exterior portions of a facility or its facility components. Under 40 CFR Part 763.86, suspect ACM are divided into three categories: surfacing materials, thermal system insulation (commonly referred to as TSI), and…, Surfacing material , includes, but is not limited to, joint compound, plaster, and painted, troweled on, or spray-applied textured material. To remain in compliance with Regulation 61-86.1, surfacing materials on exterior and interior portions of a facility shall be sampled according to procedures outlined in Regulation 61-86.1, Section VI.D.1. (a)-(c): A licensed asbestos inspector shall collect, in a statistically…, Thermal System Insulation (TSI) , is any material that is applied to pipes, fittings, boilers, breeching, tanks, ducts, or other facility components for the purpose of preventing heat loss or gain, water condensation, or for other purposes., Miscellaneous Material , is any material that is not considered a surfacing material or thermal system insulation and includes, but is not limited to, flooring, roofing, mastics, gaskets, cementitious materials, caulkings, ceiling tiles, fire doors, wall boards, and flexible duct connections. To remain in compliance with Regulation 61-86.1, TSI and miscellaneous materials on exterior and interior portions of a facility…, Regulation 61-86.1, Section VI.C requires that a building inspector and/or management planner prepare a written asbestos building inspection report to include the following:, A title page denoting: The client's name, company, address, and telephone number, and the name and exact location of the facility inspected; the date the inspection was performed; the date the inspection report was written; and the printed name and telephone number of the inspector(s), and his or her affiliated company name, address, and telephone number. A cover letter to the building owner or…, Things to Note:, At no time will negative assumptions about a suspect material's content be acceptable. There are only two acceptable options: Positive assumptions of suspect materials or Sampling of suspect materials per the procedures specified in 40 CFR 763.86 A homogenous area is considered not to contain ACM only if the results of all samples required to be collected from the area are one percent or less.…Archived Watershed Water Quality Assessments
The S.C. Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) Watershed Program helps facilitate solutions to water quality issues within the State. The program traditionally shared extensive water quality data and watershed information through the Watershed Water Quality Assessments (WWQAs) which were produced every five years for each major basin. As of 2016, the Watershed Assessments have been…, Edisto, 1995 Edisto WWQA 1995 Edisto WWQA 1998 Edisto WWQA 1998 Edisto WWQA 2004 Edisto WWQA 2004 Edisto WWQA 2012 Edisto WWQA 2012 Edisto WWQA , Salkehatchie, 1993 Salkehatchie WWQA 1993 Salkehatchie WWQA 1997 Salkehatchie WWQA 1997 Salkehatchie WWQA 2003 Salkehatchie WWQA 2003 Salkehatchie WWQA 2010 Salkehatchie WWQA 2010 Salkehatchie WWQA , Santee, 1996 Santee WWQA 1996 Santee WWQA 1999 Santee WWQA 1999 Santee WWQA 2005 Santee WWQA 2005 Santee WWQA 2013 Santee WWQA 2013 Santee WWQA , Catawba, 1996 Catawba WWQA 1996 Catawba WWQA 1999 Catawba WWQA 1999 Catawba WWQA 2005 Catawba WWQA 2005 Catawba WWQA 2012 Catawba WWQA 2012 Catawba WWQA , Pee Dee, 1997 Pee Dee WWQA 1997 Pee Dee WWQA 2000 Pee Dee WWQA 2000 Pee Dee WWQA 2007 Pee Dee WWQA 2007 Pee Dee WWQA 2015 Pee Dee WWQA 2015 Pee Dee WWQA , Saluda, 1995 Saluda WWQA 1995 Saluda WWQA 1998 Saluda WWQA 1998 Saluda WWQA 2004 Saluda WWQA 2004 Saluda WWQA 2011 Saluda WWQA 2011 Saluda WWQA , Savannah, 1993 Savannah WWQA 1993 Savannah WWQA 1997 Savannah WWQA 1997 Savannah WWQA 2003 Savannah WWQA 2003 Savannah WWQA 2010 Savannah WWQA 2010 Savannah WWQA , Broad, 1998 Broad WWQA 1998 Broad WWQA 2001 Broad WWQA 2001 Broad WWQA 2007 Broad WWQA 2007 Broad WWQASulfur Dioxide News
Consent Decree issued to address SO2 Designations, - On March 2, 2015, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California granted the joint motion between the Sierra Club and the U.S. EPA to resolve claims regarding the Agency's failure to promulgate designations for the 2010 revised primary SO2 NAAQS (Case No. 13-cv-03953-SI). Under the Consent Decree, the EPA would follow a round of designations proposed in the Data Requirements…, Contact, Mary Peyton Wall , Manager, (803) 898-4064Hand-Held Devices
Hand-Held Devices, Per RHB 1.2.7, hand-held radiographic or fluoroscopic devices are not permitted in the state of South Carolina. Manufacturers may request a review of equipment pursuant to RHB 1.6.3, Equipment Not Covered in Regulation, ., Hand-Held Dental Devices, On May 26, 2023, South Carolina Regulation 61-64, X-rays, (Title B) was revised and no longer requires an exemption for the use of hand-held dental equipment. Hand-held dental devices must meet the requirements of RHB 4.5.13 "Hand-Held X-ray System - Intraoral Equipment". Previously issued exemptions are now void and no longer required. Facilities utilizing intraoral hand-held x-ray systems must…, memorandum, regarding this change.Patients
File a Complaint, Medical Imaging Safety, For Healthcare Professionals & FacilitiesX-Ray: File a Complaint
Have you been exposed to unnecessary radiation through an X-ray? Have you been injured or burned while using a tanning bed in a tanning salon/service? Have you witnessed unsafe practices or unsanitary conditions at a tanning facility? You can file a complaint and/or report an injury to SCDES. We will begin the investigative process to determine if the facility is in compliance with state…, Use this form to:, File a complaint or share a concern about an X-ray or tanning facility/service in South Carolina. Alert SCDES to unsanitary or dangerous conditions or practices at an X-ray or tanning facility/service., Do, not, use this form:, For billing or financial complaints. For those, contact the agency or the , S.C. Department of Consumer Affairs, ., Fill Out and Submit Complaint by Mail or Fax, Link to fillable, printable X-ray and Tanning Facility Complaint Form (pdf), . Send completed form to: SCDES, Bureau of Radiological Health 2600 Bull Street Columbia, SC 29201 Fax Number: (803) 545-4412 You can contact us by phone for more information or to speak to an investigator; however, all complaints must still be documented in writing.Shielding Plan Requirements
Shielding Plans Are Required For:, All diagnostic medical X-ray units installed at new facilities. Relocation of a unit within a facility. All installations of therapeutic X-ray or accelerator units. All installations of medical X-ray units at veterinary offices. All industrial X-ray units used in shielded room configurations. All dental cephalometric, dental CTs and TMJ units. Replacement of an existing X-ray unit at a facility,…, prior, approval is granted) Mobile and portable radiographic units with a permanent cassette holder All mobile units that are used in the same room for five (5) or more consecutive days., Shielding Plans, May, Be Required For:, Modifications to an existing approved installation, such as moving the operator's barrier, or installing vertical cassette holder. Changes to an approved plan that may affect the shielding requirements, such as changing the film/screen system used, increased workload, changes in occupancy of surrounding areas, etc. Dental intraoral units that are installed in modular type cabinets where there are…, Shielding Plans Not Required For:, Dental intraoral units installed in rooms with complete walls Most industrial and analytical X-ray equipment Peripheral bone density units., If Shielding Plan is Required, Do This, Prior to construction and before installation of the X-ray unit, you must submit a: Radiation shielding plan prepared by a, Class III (pdf), ,, Class IV (pdf), ,, Class VII (pdf), ,, Class VIII (pdf), , or, Class IX (pdf), registered vendor, SCDES's Shielding Plan Review Application Form (pdf), , completed Shielding plan review fee of $62.50. You may request an invoice to pay these fees electronically. This invoice will be emailed to the address indicated on the application form. You may submit the application and supporting documentation electronically to:, XRayFRA-ShieldingPlans@des.sc.gov, . Submissions are processed and reviewed on a first come, first serve basis once we have received the complete application, supporting documentation and the application/review fee. Submissions are reviewed in the order in which they are received and deemed complete. The turnaround time for review is 10-15 business days. Once SCDES receives the application and all required documentation (to…, As-Built/Area Survey Submission Form, ., Shielding Design: Regulatory Guide, Consult our, Regulatory Guide B6 - X-ray Facility Shielding Plans, for clarification on South Carolina's requirements.X-Ray Facilities: Vendors
Register, Report Sales, Installations, List of Registered VendorsOut of State Registration: Mobile X-Ray Services
If your out-of-state facility would like to offer mobile X-ray services in South Carolina, you must first apply for and receive an Out-of-State Facility Registration Approval (FRA). There are no reciprocity agreements with other states in effect. To apply for your Out-of-State FRA, you must: Complete the, Out-of-State FRA request form (pdf), Enclose the, required supporting documentation, Enclose the application fee of $62.50. You may request an invoice to pay these fees electronically. This invoice will be emailed to the address indicated on the application form. You may submit the application and supporting documentation electronically to:, XRayFRA-ShieldingPlans@des.sc.gov, . Submissions are processed and reviewed on a first come, first serve basis once we have received the complete application, supporting documentation and the application/review fee. Submissions are reviewed in the order in which they are received and deemed complete. The turnaround time for review is 10-15 business days. Mail to:, South Carolina Department of Environmental Services, Radiation Protection Program, 2600 Bull Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201, Reporting, Each out-of-state facility must give the Department written notice at least five (5) working days prior to the use of the x-ray machine in South Carolina. Complete the, Operating Schedule Form (pdf), and submit to this Department. You may submit this form electronically to:, XRayFRA-ShieldingPlans@des.sc.gov, or you may fax it to (803) 545-4412. If, for a specific case, the five working day period would pose an undue hardship, you may request permission from the Department to proceed sooner by calling, (803) 545-4435, ., Supporting Regulation, Requirements for the Out-of-State Facility Application Fee (RHB 2.3.4) and Out-of-State X-ray Machines (RHB 2.8) can be found in, Regulation 61-64, X-Rays (Title B), .