Enforcement Process

• OCRM Uniform Enforcement Policy
• EQC Uniform Enforcement Policy (UEP) 
• Overview of the Administrative Enforcement Process 

Environmental Affairs Enforcement Board Agenda Items

(View full text by visiting the following site: http://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t48c057.php )

Purpose

The Legislative Purpose of this Act was to encourage the use of internal, voluntary self-audits to improve compliance and to provide limited protection from penalties for disclosure of environmental violations or audit findings.

Voluntary Disclosure Criteria

A disclosure would be considered voluntary if it meets the following criteria:

Have you just realized that you failed to follow the law in setting up or operating your business? Are you conducting an activity that you now realize needed a DHEC registration, license or permit prior to startup?

It's your duty to bring your business into compliance, and you will need to apply for and receive the required permits, licenses and/or certifications to continue operations.

Please keep in mind that any information that you provide to DHEC 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 DHEC receives a request for public release of confidential information that you have submitted or that DHEC has generated, DHEC will evaluate at that time whether the information should be released under the Freedom of Information Act.

SCDES issues a handful of permits to individuals and groups for certain kinds of non-business activities that could affect the environment and public health. If your plans include any of the following projects, you may need a permit from SCDES. For information on these permits, click the links below.

Building a Home on Wetlands

• Wetlands Permit from Army Corps of Engineers

Building a Private Pond

Please be informed that the Bureau of Air Quality (BAQ) has transitioned to ePermitting as of February 8, 2023. As a result, the status of BAQ applications received and BAQ application decisions found in the Environmental Application Tracker is no longer current. Please visit https://epermweb.dhec.sc.gov/nsite/map/help for the most current information.

The following list is a comprehensive compilation of the Department of Environmental Service’s (SCDES) water, dams, and reservoirs laws and regulations. Copies of these laws and regulations are provided by SCDES for the convenience of the public. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of this list. However, this list is not the official text. SCDES reserves the right to withdraw or correct this list if deviations from the official text as published in the South Carolina State Register are found.

The following list is a comprehensive compilation of the Department of Environmental Service’s (SCDES) land and waste management laws and regulations. Copies of these laws and regulations are provided by SCDES for the convenience of the public. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of this list. However, this list is not the official text. SCDES reserves the right to withdraw or correct this list if deviations from the official text as published in the South Carolina State Register are found.

DHEC's COMMUNITY STAR is an award program that recognizes a business, community organization, collaborative partnership, or individual in South Carolina that is going above and beyond environmental requirements to build better community relationships, promote environmental sustainability and resiliency, and/or improve quality of life for communities.