Next Broad River Basin Council Meeting Scheduled for April 14th, 2022
Feb 22, 2022 The second Broad River Basin Council meeting (, agenda, ) has been scheduled for April 14th, 2022 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Spartanburg Community College's Tyger River Campus (1875 E. Main St. Duncan, SC 29334). The public may attend in-person or virtually. To request virtual meeting access information, please contact Scott Harder (, harders@dnr.sc.gov, ).SCDNR Now Accepting Applications for the Pee Dee River Basin Council
Mar 21, 2022 The SCDNR is now accepting applications for the Pee Dee River Basin Council. The Council is a stakeholder-led team responsible for developing a River Basin Plan for the Pee Dee basin under the guidance of the, South Carolina State Water Planning Framework, . Applications are available for download, here, and are due by April 30th, 2022.First Broad River Basin Council Meeting Scheduled for March 3rd, 2022
Feb 22, 2022 The first Broad River Basin Council meeting (, agenda, ) has been scheduled for March 3rd, 2022 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Spartanburg Community College's Tyger River Campus (1875 E. Main St. Duncan, SC 29334). The public may attend in-person or virtually. To request virtual meeting access information, please contact Scott Harder (, harders@dnr.sc.gov, ).Next Edisto River Basin Council Meeting Scheduled for March 16th, 2022
Feb 22, 2022 The next Edisto River Basin Council meeting has been scheduled for March 16th, 2022, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM (, draft agenda, ) at the Clemson Edisto Research and Education Center. The public may attend in-person or virtually. To request virtual meeting access information, please contact Scott Harder (, harders@dnr.sc.gov, ).Public Meetings scheduled for March 21st and 22nd to Kick-off Pee Dee River Basin Planning Activities
Feb 15, 2022 SCDNR will host two public meetings on March 21st in Conway and on March 22nd in Florence to kick-off river basin planning activities in the Pee Dee River Basin. An overview of the South Carolina State Water Planning Framework will be presented and applications for the Pee Dee River Basin Council will be solicited. Similar information will be presented at each meeting. For more…, Pee Dee Basin Planning, page.Next Edisto River Basin Council Meeting Scheduled for February 16th, 2022
Feb 2, 2022 The next Edisto River Basin Council meeting has been scheduled for February 16th, 2022, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM (, draft agenda, ) at the Clemson Edisto Research and Education Center. The public may attend in-person or virtually. To request virtual meeting access information, please contact Scott Harder (, harders@dnr.sc.gov, ).As Summer Arrives, DHEC Encourages Beachgoers to Safely Enjoy and Also Protect SC Beaches
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 24, 2024 COLUMBIA, S.C. — May to October is a busy time for South Carolina beaches, when residents and visitors flock to the coast to enjoy one of South Carolina’s greatest and most beautiful natural attractions. South Carolina’s sandy beaches, dunes, and ocean waters drive a booming coastal tourism economy. Healthy beaches and dune systems also protect life and…, Keep off the Dunes Program, encourages preservation of the state’s dune resources through a collaborative partnership to enhance public awareness of sensitive dune environments. DHEC’s, Adopt-a-Beach Program, is a voluntary, beach cleanup program designed to keep South Carolina beaches clean and healthy. Residents and tourists visiting the coast can take simple, but important steps to help protect the state’s beaches, dunes, coastal waters, and the species that rely on these critical resources. Be mindful when walking past the dunes. Stick to existing paths and walkovers to prevent dune disturbance.…, South Carolina Ordinances Providing Protection to Sea Turtles, . Reduce the amount of plastic you take to the beach: choose reusable items over single-use items and leave nothing behind., Recycle monofilament fishing line, , which can entangle animals. Organize or participate in a local beach cleanup and report your data using DHEC’s, MyCoast South Carolina, application. While at the beach, DHEC reminds beachgoers to protect their own safety and the safety of others by being aware of potential ocean hazards like rip currents, water quality-related swimming advisories, and other risks. Visit DHEC’s, Beach Monitoring webpage, or, CheckMyBeach, webpage to review any long- or short-term swimming advisories due to elevated bacteria levels in ocean waters. DHEC’s, SC Beach Guide, can be used to find beach access locations and information about seasonal lifeguards, parking, public transit accessibility and more. Pay special attention to local reports about rip currents or other potential risks. Ocean currents present an added threat to safe swimming. Learn about rip currents and other ocean safety tips from the, American Red Cross, . Be aware of areas that do and don’t have lifeguards on duty, and never leave children unattended near the ocean or any body of water. Review swimming safety tips and guidelines on DHEC’s, Water Safety and Drowning Prevention webpage, . It’s also advised to avoid swimming in natural waterbodies, whether fresh or salt, if you have an open wound as doing so can increase the risk for infection. Learn more about DHEC’s role with protecting the coastal environment at, scdhec.gov/ocrm, , and find important safe swimming guidance on our, Water Safety and Drowning Prevention webpage, . ###DHEC Encourages South Carolinians to Actively Celebrate Earth Day, Take Small Steps for a Greener Lifestyle
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 19, 2024 COLUMBIA, S.C. — As South Carolina’s environmental protection agency, the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is proud to join millions of people, schools, community groups, businesses, and governments around the world in celebrating, International Earth Day, on April 22. Earth Day is held annually to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the environment. DHEC encourages South Carolinians to take an active role in preserving South Carolina’s irreplaceable natural resources by utilizing the many environmental education tools and resources available at, scdhec.gov/environment, . DHEC’s website provides fact sheets and signage, local volunteer groups, environmental grant opportunities, classroom education materials, and more — all centered on promoting environmental health. “We want South Carolinians to know that we at DHEC aren’t just environmental regulators. Our staff have a passion for environmentalism and are dedicated to ensuring our beautiful state has clean air…, said Myra Reece, DHEC’s Director of Environmental Affairs, . “We hope everyone finds a way to actively participate in Earth Day and to also take steps toward implementing an environmental mindset all year long.”, EarthDay.org, provides a searchable map to easily find nearby Earth Day events and activities seeking public participation. Additional ways to take part in Earth Day include: Take part in the, Breathe Better (B2), anti-idling-clean air campaign Volunteer to, Adopt-a-Stream, or, Adopt-a-Beach, Add a, compost pile, to your backyard Switching from paper billing to online billing Apply for ", Champions of the Environment, " funding for your K-12 classroom Dispose of, household batteries, and, hazardous substances, properly, Reduce food waste, , which reduces wasted resources Learn about, smart gardening, Beyond single-day Earth Day activities, South Carolinians can make small changes to their daily routines that can lead to an overall more earth-friendly lifestyle: Biking and walking and using public transportation can help reduce your carbon footprint Properly recycling and reusing or repurposing items keeps them out of landfills Limit household water use by installing rain barrels for outdoor…, scdhec.gov/environment, . For more on Earth Day, visit, EarthDay.org, ###DHEC Launches New Vessel Turn-In Program to Help Relieve SC Coast of Abandoned Boats
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 1, 2024 CHARLESTON, S.C. – Abandoned and derelict boats are a chronic problem along South Carolina’s coast, negatively impacting marshes and coastal waters and creating hazards. Derelict boats are often old, neglected and in very poor condition. A new program is being piloted by the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) to prevent derelict boats from…, Vessel Turn-In Program (VTIP), this summer for individuals and businesses in South Carolina’s eight coastal counties: Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Horry and Jasper. Through the VTIP, individuals and businesses located in those counties can apply to have unwanted, at-risk or end-of-life vessels disposed of before they become abandoned, at no cost. “The Vessel Turn-In Program is an excellent…, said Marian Page, Interim Bureau Chief of DHEC OCRM., “Abandoned boats threaten sensitive habitat, impact the safe recreational use of our waterways and detract from our state’s beautiful coastal landscape.” After applying, individuals will be notified if they’ve been accepted for the program and will be provided details for transporting their vessel to a drop-off site or having their vessel picked up by DHEC OCRM contractors. The vessels will be…, Page said., “These two pilot programs aim to protect natural resources and divert waste from landfills in our coastal communities.” The pilot programs are being funded through a Coastal Zone Enhancement grant from the, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)., Those interested in the VTIP pilot project should apply online at, scdhec.gov/ADV, and will need key pieces of information to complete the application, including the boat title, U.S. Coast Guard documentation or S.C. Department of Natural Resources registration number; vessel hull identification number; vessel material; approximate dimensions and weight of the vessel; and four photos of the vessel (front, back, and both sides). The first vessel drop-off day will take place in…, Interested applicants from any of the state’s eight coastal counties are encouraged to apply online by April 5, 2024, to be considered for the pilot VTIP, . Anyone with questions about the VTIP project can learn more at, scdhec.gov/ADV, or email, chriscj@dhec.sc.gov., ###New Indy Catawba
*Page Updated May 15, 2025, , On May 15, 2025, SCDES issued, air construction permit CP-50000041, to New Indy Catawba. The permit replaces the legacy production limit of 1,825 air dried tons of unbleached pulp/day (ADTUBP/day) with a 2,700 ADTUBP/day production limit. The permit application for the previously issued construction permit 2440-0005-DF (for the switch from bleached to unbleached paper) and construction permit CP-50000061 (for the new stream stripper) included emission…, New Indy Air Construction Permits page, . Odor Complaints and Investigation On August 21, 2023, DHEC began using our, Report It!, system instead of the New Indy Odor Investigation Form to receive environmental reports from the public related to New Indy. The , Report It!, system relays comments from the public to our local offices, and staff will continue to address these reports as quickly as possible. The investigation into undesirable levels of odors surrounding New Indy has resulted in several actions, and New Indy has been required to perform extensive measures that have improved conditions in the surrounding communities. Orders remain in effect that require…, Report It!, system for submitting environmental or health concerns. Odor information and concerns about New Indy also should continue to be sent directly to the facility at, newindycatawba.com, . Those experiencing New Indy odor in North Carolina should also report concerns directly to the facility at, newindycatawba.com, . Other concerns about local odor can be reported to North Carolina air quality agencies for investigation:, Mecklenburg County Air Quality, (Charlotte, Pineville, and other areas in Mecklenburg County), NC DEQ Regional Office in Mooresville, (Marvin, Waxhaw, and other areas in Union County) Odor Reports Map Many variables affect the number of odor reports during a time period. The main variable is wind direction and whether or not people are upwind or downwind from New Indy. We have used citizen reports that include time and place along with local wind speed and direction data to follow air parcels back in time to recreate the path…, Catawba River New Indy Water Special Study, Order to correct undesirable level of air contaminants issued to New Indy, Pollution Control Act Order Letter - June 29, 2022, New Indy's Response to DHEC Request for Information, New Indy NPDES Compliance Inspection, Notice of Alleged Violation/Notice of Enforcement Conference, NPDES Consent Order - June 29, 2022, Notice of Order Violation: Consent Order 22-042-W, Preliminary Engineering Report Requirements - February 21, 2023, DHEC Back Trajectory Summary Report, DHEC Lancaster and York County Odor Investigation Report, New Indy Solid Waste Landfill Inspection Form, New Indy Air Quality Inspection Report, New Indy Stripper Restart Approval, DHEC worked with state, local, tribal, and federal partners to investigate the odors. North Carolina DEQ indicated to South Carolina DHEC that they investigated their wastewater treatment plants in North Carolina and did not find issues believed to contribute to the odors. To assist in the investigation and ongoing response, DHEC requested resource assistance from the US EPA: to bring in pulp and…, advanced technology, to measure air quality in surrounding communities where odors have been reported On May 13, 2021, EPA issued an, Order, to address the endangerment posed by the air emissions of hydrogen sulfide. Odors from Sulfur-Containing Compounds at Regulated Sources Sulfur odors come largely from decaying organic matter - especially when decaying organic materials are concentrated in one area like a wastewater treatment plant, land application of organic fertilizer and certain industries like pulp and paper mills. The pulp…, There are no state or federal odor regulations applicable to South Carolina, . Weather patterns may also influence the detection of odors. DHEC typically receives odor complaints during changes of seasons, during temperature inversions, and when wind comes from atypical directions. Meteorologists of both South Carolina and North Carolina have confirmed temperature inversions have recently occurred in the area. Methyl mercaptan, a sulfur-containing compound, is added to…, form, for community members to contribute details of their odor observations to assist in our initial investigation but encourages community members impacted by odor to make reports directly to New Indy. Observers in North Carolina are also encouraged to provide reports to the local environmental protection agency that has jurisdiction in their area. Resources, Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry: Are Environmental Odors Toxic?, Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry: ToxFAQTM for Hydrogen Sulfide, SCDES and local partners continue to work to resolve odor concerns., This webpage will be updated as new information about the odor investigation is available.