Agricultural Facilities - Inspections, Enforcement

Compliance and Monitoring Inspections

Once a facility begins operating, it is added to the list of wastewater facilities that are inspected by the EA Regional Offices under the oversight of the Bureau’s Division of Water Facilities Permitting. Each of the eight Regional Offices is required to perform agricultural inspections to ensure facilities are in compliance with the requirements of their permit and animal facility management plan.

External Links

• Clemson University

1. Cooperative Extension Services
2. Confined Animal Manure Managers Program
3. Pesticide Safety Education
   1. Program 

Annual Operating Fees for Agricultural Permits

General Information

Since 1987, the South Carolina General Assembly has authorized DHEC to assess annual environmental operating permit fees for certain state permits. Changes to the fee regulation, State Regulation 61-30, went into effect on June 26, 1998, which include annual operating fees for agricultural facilities (animal growing operations). The fee amount is based on the type of animal operation and either the size of the facility or the type of manure handling.

Laws

Summary of Laws

SC Pollution Control Act

SC Environmental Protection Fund Act

Regulations

Summary of Regulations

Facilities are required to submit Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) electronically via the internet to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Central Data Exchange. Facilities submitting by internet are exempt from any separate mailing to S.C. DHEC. South Carolina does not impose additional requirements on facilities beyond what is required by federal law and regulations. Electronically submitted TRI reports are due by July 1.

South Carolina TRI Contact:

A) Endpoints

• Toxics: Use the toxic endpoints given in Appendix A of the Risk Management Program regulation.
• Flammables: Flammables: For the worst case, use an overpressure of 1 psi explosion. For the alternative, use a radiant heat/exposure time of 5kw/m2 for 40 seconds.

B) Wind Speed/Atmospheric Stability

For each accidental release, document:

• Date, time, and release duration.
• Chemical(s) released.
• Estimated quantity released in pounds.
• Type of release and the source.
• Weather conditions, if known.
• On-site impacts.
• Off-site impacts, if known.
• Initiating event and contributing factors, if known.
• Whether offsite responders were notified, if known.
• Process or operational changes as a result of the release.

• EPA's Chemical Accident Prevention and Risk Management Planning (RMP) Page
• General Duty Clause (EPA, 2009)
• EPA's Industry Guidance Website 
  • Operators of Water Treatment Systems

Facilities that have more than the threshold quantity (TQ) of a 112(r) listed "regulated substance" in a single process must develop and implement a risk management program, by June 21, 1999, as specified by the rule. In terms of the regulation, "process" means manufacturing, storing, distributing, handling, or using a regulated substance in any way.

In the hazard assessment section of the Risk Management Program, facilities must evaluate the possible consequences of an accidental release to nearby communities, schools, hospitals, recreational facilities, and other public and environmentally sensitive areas by predicting the "worst-case" and "alternative" (i.e., more likely) release scenarios. These scenarios can be demonstrated using computer-based models. Facilities must also document past accidents that have occurred at the facility for the last five years.