South Carolina Environmental Law Project

South Carolina Environmental Law Project We use our legal expertise to protect land, water and communities across South Carolina.
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This is what people power looks like. 💪Last night, Newberry County Council rejected a proposed data center agreement on ...
06/04/2026

This is what people power looks like. 💪

Last night, Newberry County Council rejected a proposed data center agreement on third reading after unanimously approving it on first and second. What changed? A packed room of engaged residents advocating alongside one another. The Council then went further, enacting a 12-month moratorium on all data center development.

"What happened last night proves communities have real power when they show up and speak out," said SCELP Staff Attorney Emily Poole. "Newberry residents made it clear this is not what they want for their community, and, thankfully, the Council listened."

South Carolina does not have to choose between innovation and protection. But it does have to choose between lawful, transparent decision-making or rushed approvals that leave communities paying the price. Never underestimate the force of concerned residents.

🎥 Full story from WIS TV: wistv.com/2026/06/03/moratorium-data-centers-put-effect-after-newberry-county-residents-raise-concerns/

For decades, the former Georgetown Steel site has been part of the community's fabric. Now, a cleanup is underway – and ...
06/03/2026

For decades, the former Georgetown Steel site has been part of the community's fabric. Now, a cleanup is underway – and we helped make sure the public has a seat at the table.

Given the area's historical industrial pollution, your questions and participation in this process matter.

On June 11 at 6 PM, the SC Department of Environmental Services (DES) will hold a public meeting on the Voluntary Cleanup Contract for the Liberty River, LLC property. On behalf of the Winyah Rivers Alliance and Coastal Conservation League, we requested this meeting to ensure the community has an opportunity to stay informed and involved. DES, the developer and their environmental consultant will provide an overview of the cleanup and take questions at the meeting.

📆 Thursday, June 11 at 6 PM
📍 Winyah Auditorium at 1200 Highmarket St, Georgetown, SC 29440
📧 Can't attend? Submit written questions through June 10: [email protected]
🔗 More info: des.sc.gov/Brownfields

Federal rollbacks, state inaction and the fastest growth rate in the nation are converging at exactly the wrong moment f...
05/29/2026

Federal rollbacks, state inaction and the fastest growth rate in the nation are converging at exactly the wrong moment for South Carolina's wetlands.

Since 2022, SCELP has been working with local communities to fill that gap with a model wetlands ordinance that any county or municipality can tailor to their specific goals and needs. Bluffton and Awendaw have already done it, and Georgetown County is on its way.

🔗 If your community is ready to protect its wetlands, so are we. Learn more and access our model ordinance: scelp.org/local-wetlands-ordinances

05/27/2026

A settlement, an ACE Basin update, a new frontier in environmental law and more – this month's e-news is worth opening. 📨

🎥 Watch this video from Live 5 News for a sneak peek at our Williamsburg Recycling settlement, and subscribe so tomorrow's full update is delivered straight to your inbox: scelp.org/pages/bloomerang-subscribe

Last night, a budget amendment passed removing funding for the construction of the Horry County landfill expansion and r...
05/20/2026

Last night, a budget amendment passed removing funding for the construction of the Horry County landfill expansion and redirecting $300,000 toward studies on a transfer station – a meaningful step away from the expansion that would have filled over 100 acres of wetlands. 🎉

The amendment also directs the Solid Waste Authority to explore a mandatory recycling program and provide water quality testing.

This is what happens when people speak up. Thank you to everyone who submitted comments, attended the public hearing and made their voices heard.

✍️ And a special thank you to the organizations that signed on to our comment letter in defense of wetlands, water quality and wildlife: Coastal Conservation League, Friends of Lewis Ocean Bay, League of Women Voters of Horry County SC, Grand Strand Chapter SCNPS, Waccamaw Audubon Society and Winyah Rivers Alliance.

Last week, staff attorney Emily Poole argued our Edgefield RV Park case in Circuit Court, and members of Horse Creek Nat...
05/18/2026

Last week, staff attorney Emily Poole argued our Edgefield RV Park case in Circuit Court, and members of Horse Creek Nature Preserve and Savannah Riverkeeper were right there with her.

These are the neighbors whose homes, wells and waterways sit downstream from a proposed 70-site RV park that the Edgefield County Planning Commission unanimously denied, only to reverse course three months later with no explanation.

This case is about more than an RV park. It's about whether local governments are accountable to their own ordinances and the people they serve.

We expect a ruling in the coming weeks.

🔗 Learn more about the case: scelp.org/cases/edgefield-rv-park

📣 We're hiring a Communications Associate at SCELP! We're seeking a creative communicator to manage our social media pre...
05/15/2026

📣 We're hiring a Communications Associate at SCELP!

We're seeking a creative communicator to manage our social media presence, create content across formats – including short-form video – and support a wide range of communications work that advances our mission.

🔗 To learn more and apply, visit scelp.org/jobs/communications-associate

Jasper County is the fastest-growing county in the United States – and the most vulnerable in South Carolina to wetland ...
05/14/2026

Jasper County is the fastest-growing county in the United States – and the most vulnerable in South Carolina to wetland loss. Now, a developer is seeking to build and operate a sand mine on a 265-acre tract in the Grays community, which includes over 60 acres of wetlands.

In March, we filed suit on behalf of the Coastal Conservation League, challenging Jasper County Council's decision to rezone this land from "Rural Preservation" to "Resource Extraction." The Council moved forward despite its own Planning Commission recommending denial and the project's incompatibility with the County's Comprehensive Plan.

Residents consistently spoke up, expressing concerns about traffic, noise, air quality, water contamination and the threat to their quality of life. With the developer owning another 400 acres directly across the street, this rezoning raises serious concerns about what comes next.

We're fighting to ensure Jasper County's zoning decisions comply with the law and reflect the community's will – not the interests of a single developer.

🔗 Learn more about the case: scelp.org/cases/hiers-mine-rezoning

Judge Anderson has ruled in favor of a developer seeking to build a private vehicular bridge to a coastal island in the ...
05/12/2026

Judge Anderson has ruled in favor of a developer seeking to build a private vehicular bridge to a coastal island in the ACE Basin area. Today, we filed a motion to reconsider that ruling.

Following the December hearing, the ruling concluded that there was insufficiently clear evidence that the property lies within the ACE Basin Taskforce Boundary Area, despite long-standing GIS data and direct testimony supporting the boundary's location, which has remained unchanged since 2004.

The ACE Basin is one of the largest intact estuaries on the East Coast, and decisions like this could have lasting impacts on the future of protected coastal landscapes.

If our motion is denied, we will evaluate options to pursue an appeal.

🔗 Learn more in our press release 👉 scelp.org/news/alc-rules-against-ace-basin-protections-in-bay-light-bridge-case-scelp-to-seek-reconsideration

05/07/2026

Because of you, we exceeded our $200,000 Giving Days goal! 🎉

Thank you to our 220+ donors, 29 matching donors and every business and individual who supported us during Midlands Gives and Palmetto Giving Day! Your generosity powers our work and helps protect the natural spaces we all love. 💚

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