Recent S. C. Supreme Court Decision Featured in The State Newspaper

Posted 02/02/10

The recent decision of the S. C. Supreme Court to overturn a previous ruling that severely affected fresh water wetlands in S. C. was featured in the February 2nd issue of The State Newspaper. Click HERE to read the article.

Major Victory in the S.C. Supreme Court!

Posted 02/01/10

The South Carolina Supreme Court has upheld the validity of the South Carolina Coastal Management Program and reaffirmed its applicability to all wetlands in the coastal zone. In a unanimous opinion issued February 1, 2010, the Supreme Court overturned a ruling of the Administrative Law Court and rejected a developer's challenge to the Program. To continue reading this article select "more" below or click HERE to read the opinion.

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Winter 2009 Newsletter Now Available Online

Posted 01/12/10

The Winter 2009 Newsletter is now available for viewing online.

Inside you will find articles on our recent work. This includes updates on Landfill Issues and case updates as well as coverage on our on-going Deerfield Clean Water Act case. Click HERE to check out this latest newsletter from SCELP.

The newsletter is in an Adobe pdf format, and you will need the Adobe Reader - available free from Adobe.

Visit our downloads page for all issues available.

The DHEC Board Reverses Decision on Sheet Pile Project in Kiawah

Posted 12/10/09

The DHEC board has denied a developer's application to drive 30' deep metal pilings into the narrow section of the Spit. This is part of the larger proposed project on Captain Sam's Spit that SCELP is fighting. At a hearing on December 10th 2009 the DHEC board reversed their staff decision, and denied the request for the permit by the developer.

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SCELP Stops Mega Dump Construction in Laurens County

Posted 11/24/09

SCELP assisted a citizens group in a successful attempt to halt the construction of a "Mega Dump" in Laurens County. SCELP asked that the construction permit be denied because there was no need for another landfill in the area. Thankfully, the Administrative Law Judge ruled that the company failed to show a true “demonstration of need” because the proposed site sits four miles from the Curry Lake facility and 11 miles from Greenville County's Twin Chimneys landfill. Republic Landfill, also in Greenville County, is 14 miles away. The area has more than enough capacity to handle all of the waste generated there. Read the EAGLE story HERE.

SCELP Goes in Front of the SC Supreme Court to Defend Position in Spectre Case

Posted 10/22/09

SCELP argued in front of the SC Supreme Court Wednesday, October 21, 2009 in what many view as a landmark environmental case. The issue of this case is whether the Coastal Management Program (CMP) is valid law, giving the state of SC authority to regulate non-tidal wetlands. The opponents, developers whom want to develop a 62 acre plat of land (of which over half is isolated wetland), say the CMP isn't valid because it was passed using a different procedure than most SC regulations. Under their theory, the state has no right to regulate isolated wetlands. Read more below or click HERE to read the entire State article.

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Critics Urge Changes in U.S. 601 Plan through Congaree National Park

Posted 09/10/09

The Department of Transportation plans to commence work on rebuilding several bridges on Hwy U.S. 601 through Congaree National Park next year. Critics have been asking DOT to replace more of the existing causeways with bridging to allow the safe passage of wildlife. A public hearing on the project was held on September 8, 2009. Click HERE to read an article on this issue that appeared in The State Newspaper on September 9, 2009.

Citizens Group Stops Proposed Williamsburg County Megadump

Posted 04/23/09

A group of Williamsburg County citizens and property owners has succeeded in its efforts to keep a proposed “megadump” out of the county. Despite earlier approval of a proposed 2.375-million tons per year landfill, Williamsburg County Council voted unanimously to declare any contracts for waste disposal facilities with the North Carolina landfill company MRR Southern null and void. The county will pay $750,000 to remove itself from all previous agreements with MRR.

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"Lawyers Weekly" Spotlights SCELP

Posted 02/18/09

"Lawyers Weekly" writer Fred Horlbeck came by in early January to write a story about the SC Environmental Law Project.
His featured article did a great job at covering some of what SCELP does, how SCELP does it and even a little insight as to why.

Please click HERE to read the full story.