DHEC Environmental eNews

July 2023 | {View as Webpage}

This monthly electronic newsletter from DHEC's Environmental Affairs will keep our customers and stakeholders informed of important events, legislation, meetings, permitting information, and compliance information.

The New Department of Environmental Services

In May, the General Assembly passed legislation to create the new South Carolina Department of Environmental Services effective July 1, 2024. We are working hard with the Department of Administration to prepare for next year's launch of South Carolina's new environmental state agency. We remain committed to serving you and your needs as our stakeholder and customers. We anticipate many opportunities for you to stay engaged as we build and launch this new agency. Please click here to provide us with some initial feedback as we begin this important work.

Brownfields Grant

DHEC's Brownfields Program has been selected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to receive $2,000,000 in Brownfields funding. Grant funds will be used to conduct 78 Phase I and 34 Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to prepare 20 cleanup plans, create an inventory of brownfield sites, and support community outreach activities. The target areas for this grant are the cities of Greenville and Orangeburg and St. Helena Island. Priority sites include former residential structures, a primarily vacant shopping center, an assemblage of11 parcels located in downtown Orangeburg, and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park on St. Helena Island.

Smart Business Award Winners

DHEC’s Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling is excited to announce the 2022 Smart Business Award Winners: Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, Dodge Mechanical Power Transmission Greenville Gear Plant, and Shutterfly. DHEC’s Smart Business Program provides technical support to companies to help establish waste reduction and recycling programs and encourages businesses to report their yearly amounts of recycled material. Read more about the 2022 winners’ outstanding waste reduction and recycling efforts here.

U.S. EPA Amendments to RICE NESHAP/NSPS Electronic Reporting Provisions

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed to amend the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines (RICE), the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for Stationary Compression Ignition (CI) Internal Combustion Engines, and the NSPS for Stationary Spark Ignition (SI) Internal Combustion Engines, to add electronic reporting provisions. More information is available here, and the deadline to comment is August 25, 2023.

Water Infrastructures Grant

In April the SC Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) awarded over $1.4 billion under the South Carolina Infrastructure Investment Program (SCIIP). Over 215 systems and municipalities were awarded up to $10 million to help with their water, wastewater or stormwater infrastructure needs, this would mean approximately 400 Bureau of Water construction permits and 200 Approvals to Place into Operations/Permits to Operate. As part of SCIIP, DHEC has been given $6 million to expedite the permitting, and provide ongoing construction inspection of these projects. DHEC and RIA are partnering to ensure that these projects receive priority due to the 2026 deadline to spend the money. In order to make sure these projects are given priority, it is important that grant recipients identify the SCIIP project number on all correspondence with the DHEC.

Proposed Revisions to Air Emissions Reporting

On July 25, 2023, EPA announced proposed revisions to its Air Emissions Reporting Rule (AERR). These updates would allow EPA to collect hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions for point sources on an annual basis in addition to continuing the criteria air pollutant emissions collection already in place. The HAP emissions changes apply to both major and minor sources and would start in 2027. More information on details of the proposed rule and comment period can be found on EPA's AERR site. EPA is also hosting webinars in August for targeted audiences, including regulated industry and small businesses. You must register for the webinars and may sign up on EPA's webinar page here .

Environmental Affairs Employees Complete Associated Public Manager Course

The following Environmental Affairs employees completed the Associate Public Manager (APM) Course:

Kristin Bevill, Drinking Water Protection Environmental Health Manager
Kelly Whitlock, Groundwater Protection and Agricultural Permitting Section Manager
Andrew Kingston, Bureau of Air Quality Meteorologist
Harold Taylor, Water Pollution Control Environmental Health Manager

Offered by the S.C. Department of Administration, this program is designed for new or experienced supervisors. Interesting coursework and practical work-related discussions geared toward state government processes help employees acquire the skills and knowledge needed to be a successful supervisor in today's changing workplace.

Join Our Team!

As the state agency charged with promoting and protecting South Carolina's public health and environment, DHEC has a legacy of attracting and retaining talented individuals who want to build rewarding and successful careers. DHEC's Environmental Affairs employs a wide range of environmental professionals from engineers and geologists to inspectors and meteorologists.

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